Once again Dubai takes the Gold Star Award for “firsts” and “biggests” and “longests”. This time it’s the Dubai Metro – the world’s longest automated driverless train system, stylishly incorporating within each station interior one of the four themes – Earth, Fire, Water, Air.
Atkins Middle East was appointed lead designer of the Dubai Metro; not a task to be sniffed at. The works captured the full multi disciplinary design and management of the civil works including geotechnical and site investigations, bored tunnels, viaducts and bridges (utilising post-tensioned, segmental bridge construction), route alignment, elevated, at-grade and underground stations (utilising top down constructed station boxes with diaphragm walls), depots and additional specialist services such as fire and ventilation, environmental impact, concrete durability, noise and vibration reduction, and landscaping. Whoa.
My local Metro Station – pictured – comes in the colour scheme depicting Water: blues and whites, sparkling tiles and shiny stainless steel. For this non-driving commuter, my station is dreamy clean, the landscaping green and potted with flowers, and I can report of no vibrations when the metro comes hurling along.