Are you ready to witness the future of transport right here in the capital? For the first time, there will soon be an Abu Dhabi tram connecting Yas Island to Zayed International Airport.
The announcement was made by Abu Dhabi Transport Company (ADT) at the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition and Conference.
Dubbed the Abu Dhabi Light Rail Project (LRT), the forthcoming Abu Dhabi tram was approved by the Department of Municipalities and Transport. The project will consist of three phases, and details on the timeline are still under wraps.
What do we know about the upcoming Abu Dhabi tram so far?
The base phase will start at Yas Gateway Park and connect Yas Island attractions like Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Bay before crossing to the mainland and branching off towards Zayed International Airport, Etihad Plaza and Al Raha Mall, according to reports by The National.
A map displayed at the conference showed the tram network connecting with the upcoming Disneyland Abu Dhabi, too!
As if the first Abu Dhabi tram wasn’t enough, ADT also revealed plans for an Urbanloop project, with trials set to begin on Reem Island within the next six months. The Urbanloop is a French autonomous personal rapid transit (PRT) system, which uses pod-like vehicles for first and last mile transportation.
The vehicle is purpose-built for the region and includes “advanced air-conditioning and enhanced dust protection”, according to their fact sheet. They will be able to accommodate from two to 12 people, and up to 1,500 passengers per hour, offering a non-stop service to the user’s end destination.”
Sustainable and integrated transport has become a central focus for the Emirate. These are the latest innovations in Abu Dhabi’s goal of ranking among the world’s top 30 cities in the Global Traffic Index by 2045.
Other autonomous vehicles have been piloted in Abu Dhabi, such as the trackless tram, which runs from Marina Mall to Reem Mall, and WeRide’s driverless robotaxis.
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport also recently announced the launch of Abu Dhabi’s first pilot programme for autonomous delivery vehicles. The “Auto-Delivery” vehicles, developed by K2 subsidiary Autogo, are designed to provide an advanced solution for autonomous logistics. The self-driving delivery vehicle is equipped with smart mobility and AI-powered systems, so they don’t need human control to navigate city streets and deliver orders.
This trial operation supports the emirate’s strategic vision for smart mobility. For Abu Dhabi, that is to ensure that 25 per cent of all trips are made using smart transport solutions by 2040.
Watch this space for more exciting updates, and get ready for the future!