Dubai Metro back on track after Eid service crisis

DUBAI // Trains on Dubai Metro resumed normal service this morning, putting an end to the chaos that plagued the network on the first day of Eid.
Staff at metro stations said trains began running normally between Karama and Business Bay at 9am, after early testing on the railway.
The reason for the breakdown in service, which began at 5pm on Monday and lasted through the Eid rush yesterday, still remains unclear.
A spokesman for the Roads and Transport Agency was unavailable for comment yesterday.
"We think it was a problem with the tracks," a train attendant said yesterday.
Feeder buses were provided for stations between Karama and Business Bay during the peak traffic hours. However the volume of passengers at both stations caused long delays and frustration among families hoping to travel to malls to celebrate Eid.
Twitter users posted pictures of metro staff driving the trains manually and passengers breaking their fast while waiting for buses on Monday.
"I can't believe they are doing maintenance on the metro during Eid," wrote Twitter user Luciano Rahal. "This is chaotic, try to avoid it today."
However the disruption appeared to be largely unplanned. Just a few days prior to Eid, the RTA issued a statement saying that operating hours would be extended during the holiday period.
The majority of stations were largely empty yesterday morning although for some passengers it was business as normal.
"I heard that there was a problem yesterday but I came down to see whether it had been fixed," said Anthony Connell, 32 from the UK who was traveling to Dubai Mall. "They said it was OK and it looks like it's working fine. But you never know if the same problem could come up again."
 
mcroucher@thenational.ae