Introduction
The most developed cities in the world attract a lot of people to work there. There are many economic activities which are carried out in the cities which are facilitated by transport. Transport therefore influences the lives of many people who live in cities. The various modes of transport that are used in cities include buses, trams, taxis, light railway systems, shuttles, ferries, and underground metro.
All these modes of transport help to facilitate the movement of people across the cities. Some of the busiest cities in the world include New York, London, Paris, Moscow, Montreal, Madrid, Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Sao Paolo.[1] These cities attract many people to work there because of the many economic activities that the cities engage in.
Since the largest cities in the world have very many people, they develop transportation systems which make it easier for people to travel without interfering with the economic activities taking place in the cities. The underground metro is the common means of transport that does not interfere with the activities that take place in the cities.
It is a very popular means of transport in large cities. This is because it has the capacity to carry many people at once and it does not interfere with other means of transport since it travels under the ground. This mode of transport is also very fast. It has therefore been implemented by many cities because of the convenience it offers to the members of the public.
The activities of the underground metro are not interfered with by other means of transport. It offers comfort and it ensures that trains do not get into jams. As a result, this is the fastest means of transport that people use to travel across the cities.
This paper will therefore analyze the various means of metro transport that the popular cities in the world adopt and collect data regarding their experiences and up to date developments. The paper will also discuss the feasibility of implementing the underground metro in Dubai. It will also develop a layout of implementing the underground metro and demonstrate why it is suitable for Dubai city[2].
Metro Transport in major cities across the world
The prices of oil are rising at a very high rate thereby forcing people to use other means of transport which are more convenient and affordable. Driving is now being regarded as a pass time for the rich people. To help reduce transport expenses, many people are leaving their cars behind and opting for the most convenient and affordable transport systems such as subways, buses and railways to enable them get to their places of work in time.
This analysis will therefore focus on the best mass transit systems that are available to people who work in the major cities all over the world. The different transport systems that the cities adopt depend on safety, reliability, cleanliness, and good coverage of the routes that the passengers use.
It is said that Denmark’s public transportation system was not able to meet people’s transportation needs before the construction of the Copenhagen metro. However, Copenhagen Metro has since 2002 been regarded as the best public transportation mode in the area. The people who live in the suburbs and outside Denmark use the s-train system which is linked to the Copenhagen public transit system.
The reliability rate of Copenhagen Metro was said to lie between 98-99 percent in 2006[3]. This means of transport is very clean because the Danish culture does not entertain littering. The efficiency of Copenhagen train network is also very high because the trains are operated automatically. Copenhagen’s public transport is said to be dependable and comfortable. It also puts the safety of the passengers first.
In Berlin, the public transport system is referred to as u-Bahn and it covers approximately 132 kilometers. U-Bahn is linked to the S-Bahn which is an above ground system.
The s-bahn system then links with other routes across the city. There are very few accidents which are reported by U-Bahn. The system is also covered by a mobile phone network in all the stations and tunnels thereby making the transport mode very efficient. The trains are designed to get people to their places of work on time unless a person wakes up late.[4]
It is said that approximately 90 percent of transportation in Hong Kong is carried out through public transit. The Hong Kong subway system is the main mode of transport that facilitates public transport in the region. It is said that the system carries approximately seven million people per day in the 175-kilometer network.
The trains arrive at their designated stations on time. The subway is safe because it uses platform screen doors which keep people off the railway track when the trains are not at the station. The Hong Kong subway also offers the passengers 3G network thereby enabling them to use their phones and computers while traveling.
The New York Subway System is said to be more than 100 years old and covers a distance of 375 kilometers. The subway system runs for 24 hours a day. Though the system had safety issues in the 1970s, these issues were rectified and the system is today one of the safest modes of transport in the region. The system also keeps a consistent schedule and it has the capacity to carry approximately 4.5 million people in one day.
The Paris metropolitan covers a distance of 214 kilometers and it has the most closely spaced stations in the world. It is also the world’s largest underground subway system. The system carries approximately 4.5 million passengers in one day. The system also gives people bikes to ride from one station to the other.
The Seoul Metropolitan subway carries more than 8 million people in one day and it covers a distance of 287 kilometers. The subway system also links with the Seoul’s bus system. The stations have LED screens which notify the passengers when the other trains would arrive. The system is also equipped with Wi-Fi access both in the subway and in the stations. The system also has robots whose goal is to help the riders get help with any information that they need.
The Tube is a subway system that is located in London. It is the most travelled system and it covers a distance of 400 kilometers. It reported more than 1 billion travelers in 2007. The stations are equipped with LED displays to notify the passengers when the next trains would be arriving. It also has CCTV cameras installed in order to make it easy for the police to detect any terrorist activities. This system has been voted as the best subway system in the world many times.[5]
The Moscow Metro is one of the oldest systems in the world. It is also the second most used system because it carries more than 7.5 million passengers in one day. Its routes cover more than 293 kilometers and all the stations are clean. It is also regarded as one of the most reliable systems. It runs approximately 40 trains in one hour with no major accidents being reported. The system is therefore one of the best performing subway system in the world.
The Tokyo metropolitan is the most widely used system in the world because it carries an average of 8 million passengers in one day. The Japanese culture believes that cleanliness should be given first priority. As a result, the subway system is very clean because people do not litter at the stations.
The system also has a computerized messaging system which notifies the passengers about their location while on the journey and tells them when they should expect their next stop. The trains arrive on time and incidences of vandalism or crime are very rare. However, when people are traveling during rush hour, they are stuffed into the trains thereby making their travelling experiences unpleasant.[6]
Underground Metro implementation in Dubai
Dubai is increasing its competitiveness in the world market. There are many viable business opportunities in Dubai which are attracting people from various parts of the world to invest their resources in the region. Because of the influx of people within the city, the government has found it important to invest in a transportation system which will make transportation within the city convenient and smooth.
The government has found it important to invest in a transportation system which is capable of transporting people to and from the city without interfering with other transport systems within the city. The Dubai Metro system is therefore proposed to address the transportation challenges that are facing Dubai.
In order for a city to increase its productivity, it is important for it to have an elaborate transport system which can manage to carry a large number of people conveniently and faster and without congesting the city. A subway system is an effective way of facilitating transportation within the city. This type of a project is worth the investment because it has the ability to improve the productivity of a city significantly.
The population of Dubai is rising at a very high rate. The current transportation network has not been able to transport people into the city in an effective way. This state of affairs has made Dubai to invest in the Dubai Metro project to enable it to reduce traffic congestion and inefficiency associated with the road transport system.[7]
The prices of oil are rising at a very high rate. This state of affairs has made people to refrain from using their vehicles for transport. As a result, they have opted for the public transport because it is cheaper. However, most road transport systems do not offer passengers the comfort that they demand. In addition, road transport is subject to delays because of the jams which people come across on the roads.
The introduction of the Dubai Metro subway will therefore be very beneficial to the people who conduct their business activities in Dubai because it will make transportation faster and affordable. The subway travel will also be safe since it is less prone to accidents and vandalism.[8]
Subway transport is efficient to use. This is because, subway transport offers certain services which a person cannot access while using his own car. For example, most trains using subways are normally fitted with services such as 3G, Wi-Fi connectivity and Wimax networks. These services enable people to use their mobile phones and laptops while heading to their places of work.
As a result, it is possible for a person to complete his job assignments before reaching his office.[9] For example, Dubai Metro is fitted with a Wimax network to enable the passengers to access various network services while on their way to work. It is therefore true that subway transport offers the passengers more comfort than road transport.
Pollution of the environment is a very serious issue which many countries have paid critical attention to. This is because pollution of the environment has resulted to many devastative effects on the environment such as global warming.
The introduction of a subway train therefore means that many people will stop using their vehicles for travelling purposes thereby reducing pollution to the environment significantly.[10] With the introduction of the Dubai Metro therefore, there will be a significant drop in the amount of pollution in the city. This will then ensure that people present in the city live healthy lives.
Many subway trains are designed for speed and efficiency in order to stimulate the growth of an economy.[11] They are set to operate on a set schedule so that people can have sufficient information on when to expect the next train. As a result, Dubai Metro is being designed in such a manner that the trains will be operated automatically without the need of a driver.
The trains will be controlled automatically from an Operation Control Center using a computer. This will ensure that the trains are able to keep schedule and therefore be more reliable to the passengers. Automation of services will also make the cost of providing travel services to passengers less costly.
Comfort is also a critical issue which people look for while deciding on the means of transport to use.[12] If travelling by train does not offer comfort to the passengers, many people would therefore prefer to use their own vehicles to go to work. To be able to attract many people to use public transport systems, Dubai Metro should ensure that the seats where the passengers relax are comfortable.
Reasons why the Subway system is appropriate for Dubai
The subway system is an appropriate strategy for Dubai to adopt. This is because it will help reduce the congestion within the city. Therefore, once the subway is constructed, it will be possible for people to move within the city smoothly.[13] The subway transport operates on set schedules. As a result, people will be able to perform their tasks efficiently because they will be able to reach their places of work on time.
Bibliography
Benfield, K., The 10 Best Cities for Public Transportation? The Atlantic, 2011. Web.
Kochimetro, World’s Best Metro Rail Systems. Web.
Systra, The Dubai Metro Project, ANG Dubai, 2009. Web.
Voyer, M., Top 10 Public Transit Systems, Ask Men, 2012. Web.
Footnotes
- Benfield, K., The 10 Best Cities for Public Transportation? The Atlantic, 2011
- Systra, The Dubai Metro Project, ANG Dubai, 2009.
- Kochimetro, World’s Best Metro Rail Systems.
- Benfield, K., The 10 Best Cities for Public Transportation? The Atlantic, 2011.
- Systra, The Dubai Metro Project, ANG Dubai, 2009.
- Voyer, M., Top 10 Public Transit Systems, Ask Men, 2012.
- Kochimetro, World’s Best Metro Rail Systems.
- Systra, The Dubai Metro Project, ANG Dubai, 2009.
- Kochimetro, World’s Best Metro Rail Systems.
- Systra, The Dubai Metro Project, ANG Dubai, 2009.
- Benfield, K., The 10 Best Cities for Public Transportation? The Atlantic, 2011.
- Voyer, M., Top 10 Public Transit Systems, Ask Men, 2012.
- Systra, The Dubai Metro Project, ANG Dubai, 2009.