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Qatar / Transport

Qatar Rail’s World Cup preparations are a years-long effort: Dr. Abdulla Al-Subaie 

Published: 12 Nov 2022 - 07:38 pm | Last Updated: 13 Nov 2022 - 08:07 am
The Managing Director and CEO of Qatar Rail, HE Dr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie.

The Managing Director and CEO of Qatar Rail, HE Dr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie.

The Peninsula

The Managing Director and CEO of Qatar Rail, HE Dr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie, has said that the company’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are a years-long effort that started in 2010 when planning for the Doha Metro project commenced, while taking into account all requirements for a world-class metro network that serves not only the World Cup but as a legacy for future generations and the city of Doha.

During a series of interviews that were conducted by journalist Abdullah Al Muslemani for the ‘Ahlan bel Alam’ (Hello World) program on Qatar TV and hosted Qatar Rail’s senior and executive management officials, HE Dr Al-Subaie pointed out that Qatar Rail’s current level of preparedness is the result of many years of hard work and tireless efforts by the company’s workforce across its various specializations and divisions, in addition to being the product of a range of drills and scenarios that were tested and implemented during several sports events, most notably the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.

“The metro stations, whether in terms of their spaciousness or the number of entrances available, took into account accommodating any expected influx of crowds during major events. This goes beyond the stations themselves and includes trains, whose number has been increased from 75 to 110 and are now ready for continuous service during the World Cup. Large teams at Qatar Rail have also put in place all the measures necessary for the tournament,” he added.

He underlined the importance of preparations, training, and drills implemented during the past years, where the metro network was put to the test on several occasions and many lessons were learned to improve and develop systems, train employees and staff, and boost preparedness levels through procedural guidelines, command and control systems, periodic maintenance, and equipment that have been upgraded and improved. 

He explained that these preparations have contributed to the implementation of operational plans, the latest of which took place during the Lusail Super Cup™ in September and a recent musical concert at Lusail Stadium that saw the transportation of around 39,000 people to and from the stadium. This comes within the framework of the World Cup preparations in collaboration with partners and stakeholders such as the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Mowasalat (Karwa), and the Transportation Security Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), among others.

“We are witnessing high demand on the Doha Metro network and we urge fans and customers to plan ahead their journeys to and from stadiums and other destinations in Doha city. Through the official social media accounts of Qatar Rail, the Ministry of Transport, and relevant authorities, information is being made available on alternative means of transportation so that fans can plan and choose the ones that are most suitable for them,” the Qatar Rail CEO added.

The metro serves fans 21 hours a day with shorter train headway times

Trains’ operational capacity increased and over 5,000 additional staff to serve the tournament, says Al-Sulaiti

Eng. Abdulla Saif al-Sulaiti, Chief of Service Delivery at Qatar Rail, reaffirmed that the company’s employees across divisions and departments are working around the clock to ensure the preparedness of Doha Metro to serve fans of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. 

Al-Sulaiti explained that according to Doha Metro’s operational plan for the tournament, the network will operate 21 hours a day from Saturday to Thursday, from 6 am to 3 am.

He said: “Due to the huge crowds expected during the tournament, Qatar Rail has increased its operational capacity by integrating additional trains into the network, with trains merged to increase the number of train cars from three to six. This doubles the 500-passengers-per-train capacity to reach more than a thousand people per trip.”

As part of the preparations for the tournament, all employees of the company are on high alert to ensure that the operational plan is implemented in the best possible manner. The number of technical as well as organizational staff has also been increased by more than 5,000 additional employees to serve the network during the World Cup tournament.

According to Al-Sulaiti, train headway times across the network’s three lines will be optimized and reduced during the tournament over the course of the 21 daily hours of service. 

He pointed out that although the service hours will be 21 hours a day, work will continue round the clock throughout the day, especially since after the stations’ opening hours and the return of trains to their depot, periodic daily maintenance is carried out in order to ensure their safety and readiness for service the next day with the same efficiency required to transport a large number of passengers.

Al Sulaiti pointed out that the ground service staff – who will be present at the stations to serve the fans flocking to the network, especially at stadium- and fan-zone-connected stations as well as major stations located in downtown Doha – will work diligently to ensure the network’s efficiency by managing and organizing crowds in and around stations to maintain passengers’ flow and provide a safe and seamless travel experience for all.