Dubai Metro user numbers top 23m

More than 23 million people have used Dubai Metro since its launch, according to new figures from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The RTA opened seven more stations in April and a further three in May, taking the total number of operational stations on the Red Line to 21 of a planned 29. Mattar al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA, said "People have started to perceive the benefits and advantages of using public transport such as the psychological and physical comfort, reduced fuel and vehicle maintenance costs, besides the contribution of using public transport to effectively cutting road accident deaths and reducing carbon emissions from vehicle exhausts." Releasing the figures yesterday, he said that Thursday had been the busiest day yet for the Metro, with 130,529 travelling by train. Khalid bin al Waleed station, near the BurJuman mall in Bur Dubai, is the busiest station, having handled over 3,145,210 passengers over the first nine months. Al Ittihad station in Deira was the second busiest, with 2,989,879 passengers, and Deira City Centre station was third with 2,102,484 passengers. Al Rashidiya Station, which has parking for nearly 2,000 cars, saw 1,829,653 passengers though its gates. Mr al Tayer said the opening of the new stations had attracted an extra two million passengers to the Metro. Of the new stations, Ibn Battuta was the most popular, with 466,554 people passing through its gates, followed by Karama, with 275,817, and Dubai Marina station, with 231,663 passengers since it opened in May. Emirates Airlines Station had 150,670 passengers and Terminal One station at Dubai International Airport had 116,000 passengers despite initial rules - now overturned - that banned luggage bigger than a carry-on-bag. Of the ten new stations, the least popular, GGICO Station, had 93,058 passengers. A senior RTA official previously said the the remaining eight stations would open by the end of October. The Green Line, which is delayed, is scheduled for completion in August next year.