Serco preferred bidder for GBP 400mln Dubai Metro Contract

Serco Group plc announced that the Dubai Government Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has selected it as preferred bidder to operate and maintain the first two lines of the new Dubai Metro. The first two lines will provide 76 kilometres of track and are predicted to carry 200m passengers per year. The first line opens in autumn 2009 and the second in spring 2010.

The contract will include pre-launch consultancy and planning, starting in the summer of 2007. The operations and maintenance period will then run for five years from autumn 2009, with the potential for a further five-year extension.
The contract is valued at more than GBP 400 mln over this 12.5 year period.

Serco will run the operations control centre, provide train attendants and all staff at the stations and maintain rolling stock, track and station facilities.

Serco brings substantial experience of operating metro systems, including the award-winning Docklands Light Railway in London.

The Dubai Metro is the first in the region and is an important development for the city. Ultimately, it is the RTA’s intention to extend the Dubai Metro to more than 300 kilometres, making it the world’s largest driverless metro system.
In the UK Serco operates the award winning Docklands Light Railway – which is also a driverless system – as well as Northern Rail and Merseyrail in joint venture with NedRailways. In Australia, Serco operates the prestigious Ghan, India-Pacific and Overland train services.