Qatar Rail, the national public transport operator, has awarded RKH Qitarat the operations and maintenance contract for the Doha automated metro and Lusail light rail networks.
This emblematic contract, for a period of 20 years, is estimated to be worth three billion euros. The network will be launched in 2020.
This is the first public transport network in Qatar and a key part of ‘Qatar Vision 2030’, a strategic plan established by the Qatari government in 2008, which sets the development and growth objectives for the emirate in the coming years.
On 7 December 2017, Qatar Rail, the Qatari national public transport operator, awarded RKH Qitarat — the joint venture based on a consortium between RATP Dev and Keolis (49%) and the Qatari company Hamad Group (51%) — the operations and maintenance contract for the new automated metro of Doha, the capital of Qatar with more than two million residents, and a light rail network in Lusail. Lusail is located 15km from Doha’s city centre and is currently being built and, once completed, is expected to house 240,000 residents.
This major urban project is one of the most important for the region as 90% of the Qatari population currently live in Doha and its surrounding suburbs (equivalent to 2.6 million people) and 80% of which are foreign workers.
Qatar Rail is currently in charge of building the new integrated urban transport network, which will include both the Doha metro and Lusail light rail.
The Doha metro will be completely automated and driverless with 75km of track and 37 stations. It will be equipped with Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) technology — a control system based on WiFi communication between vehicles and the computers controlling traffic — and will initially consist of three lines:
- The Red line, which will serve the Lusail City International Airport in just 36 minutes, and connect with the metro network.
- The Green line, which will link Al Mansoura, to the east, to Al Riffa, in the west, and serve 11 stations.
- The Gold line, which will serve the Khalifa International Stadium, completed in 2016.
The first part of the network will be largely underground and should start operating from the end of 2018, with 640,000 passengers a day, starting from 2021.
The Lusail light rail network will cover 18km of track and consist of four lines serving 25 stations in total. What makes this light rail different is that 50% of the network will be underground. The first part of the light rail network will open to the public in January 2019, in advance of the end of its construction, which is expected to be in 2020.
The mobilisation phase prior to the launch of this network will only last a year, an extremely short timeframe compared to the 18 months usually accorded for this stage of the project. Therefore, RKH Qitarat will have to recruit and train its new employees in less than 12 months. Over the next three months, the number of employees will increase to 100, in order to reach the 1,500 employees required in two years time.
The largest public transport network in Qatar, its construction was deemed necessary, especially as the country will host the soccer World Cup in 2022. The opening and closing matches of the competition will take place in Lusail. Subsidiaries of the SNCF and RATP groups are already partners for major special events, and will share with the Qatari government their expertise in multimodal operations to ensure the highest level of service and the best customer experience possible for all Doha and Lusail residents, as well as all supporters visiting for the World Cup.
The development of public transport is a key priority in ‘Qatar Vision 2030’, the strategic plan established in 2008, which has served the government as a road map for the emirate’s economic, social and environmental development. The Kingdom of Qatar has strong development ambitions, and seeks to become a global reference for smart cities. After significantly developing its road infrastructure, the Kingdom has made major investments in urban mobility and public transport in order to reduce serious congestion on its major roads.
Pierre Abi Nahed, representing the Hamad Group, welcomed the partnership between a major Qatari group and two international companies, stating: “This partnership brings Qatar into the exclusive club of cities with automated metro networks. It represents a real opportunity to use the latest technology in this field and reflects Qatar’s commitment to being at the cutting edge of innovation and making the best use of the international expertise being delivered by these two companies.”
On the award of these contracts,
Catherine Guillouard, RATP Group CEO, said:
“We are honoured by the trust that Qatar Rail has placed in us, and honoured to be taking part in this key project. The SNCF and RATP groups have teamed up to offer Qatar the very best French urban mobility know-how to operate and maintain its automated metro and light rail system, providing a benchmark in mobility — efficient, innovative, reliable and sustainable — to meet the needs of all of Doha’s inhabitants.”
Guillaume Pepy, Chairman of SNCF’s Executive Board, said:
“We are proud that Qatar Rail has entrusted us to operate this network, which will become a key reference for automated metro and light rail systems worldwide. Together RATP and SNCF have harnessed their very best technical and human expertise to meet the challenge. This emblematic project demonstrates that French know-how in mass transit is now a guarantee of quality that helps France win international markets.”