My City, My Metro

So goes the ad campaign. It resonates with me. Dubai is my adopted city, and the metro is a great new way to experience it. << The start of my morning commute, past UAE telecom Etisalat's Dubai HQ.

I have just found next to the luggage compartment in the gold cabin a sign indicating baggage size, as follows: maximum luggage size w81 X h58 X d30. This should answer the question of those wondering how much baggage they can carry on the train when transiting to and from the airport.

Best Practices?

My one friend so far at the metro is one of the security men at Rashidiya station. Perhaps it is better to leave him unnamed. I asked him this morning if work was busy, he answered always busy.

What about your day off? I asked. No day off, he answered. Why not, I wondered; his badge read Serco, the company which manages and provides services for the metro. He is a contracted hire, however, with a company called Frist Security or something like that.

It is very typical in the UAE, and probably in a lot of other countries that a large reputable firm wins a big service contract, partially on the basis of their good practices. But then a lot of the work gets contracted out to third companies with dodgy practices.

One of Dubai's central districts, home to Emirates Towers and the DIFC.

The presumed reputable firm does not take the responsibility of insuring that its contracted agents are carrying out proper procedures, nor does the party who awards the original contract. That said, the first and second party will speak of their own best practices while turning a blind eye to what happens further down the line.

So, a security guard works 7 days a week, probably on a 12-hour shift, which is not only bad for that individual but detrimental to the service he was hired to carry out--in this case security.

Bus Shelters

As I've probably pointed out before, taking the bus is an essential part of the metro commute. In large part Dubai's buses are big, shiny-new, comfortable and to my experience thus far--largely empty. So, one can enjoy a comfortable ride, and for me it is good enough to work at my laptop at the same time.

U/C towers at Dubai Marina.	View of Dubai Marina & JLT from Nakheel Harbour & Tower station footbridge.

A lot was made of the city's air-conditioned bus shelters when they were introduced a year or so ago. It would seem that at least half the stops have these, so one needn't wait in the hot sun while waiting for a bus. One problem, however, is that using the shelters could result in missing your bus.

Some are positioned well away from the actual stopping place of the bus and it is often hard to get a clear view of the approaching buses. Drivers aren't likely to stop unless they see someone standing at the stop, so it is often tricky to enjoy the comfort of the a/c shelters while at the same time managing to catch your bus.

Still Under-Construction Stations

There are 19 of these, and regrettably they are no longer making haste at getting them finished, as with the first 10 in the lead up to commencement day. February 2010 was the newly announced completion date for the remaining stations but I think this also may have been pushed back. Fortunately, 09-09-09 was chosen for the original opening date. It was an arbitrary deadline, but one that could not be easily brushed aside.

Emirates Golf Course & the Greens development.	Dubai Marina Mall

Gold Class Privilege

As I type I find the attendants attempting to issue a fine to a passenger for traveling in the gold cabin without the proper ticket. It appears the accosted passenger is feigning ignorance as she is escorted off the train. Looks like she escapes the fine, but not without her pride bruised, I'm sure.

So, they are trying to enforce the rules, but I'm sure it isn't easy for the normally ready to please cabin attendants to play the role of cop.

At the same time as the one woman was being chided a few others seated nearby announced this cabin is in the wrong direction as they made their getaway.

They did have a point, however. The gold cabin sits at the front of the train from Rashidiya to Nakheel Harbour & Towers, but at the back of the train in the reverse direction. Most of the seats in the cabin are likewise facing the reverse direction on the train when traveling in that direction.

Cabin attendants guarding the entrance to the gold class section. >>

I think I have become now a frequent gold class rider because I am a sucker for routine. Oh, and the seats, empty space and other comforts are nice too. In business class on a flight you pay at least three times the normal fare. We pay only double for gold. When I have travelled as a rich foreigner in Vietnam I was forced to pay 3 times the normal fare while utilizing the same transport as a local.

In Sri Lanka they have a wonderful modus operandi where foreign visitors to historical sites pay 20-30 times the local rate. So, double fare in gold class is a real bargain.

I shall be ending my metro commute shortly, having made use of the time on the morning and evening ride to compose this post. After nearly 3 weeks of metro use I would say that it is a rather different experience from that of metro use in other parts of the world.

The end of my evening commute, once again past the the SZR financial hub.

The newness, stylishness and comfort (of the gold class cabin especially) is nothing like one would experience elsewhere. We've got the cabin crew in their gold, black and white uniforms that resemble flight crew. There also hasn't emerged yet any preponderance of bad behaviour. No pushing or rudeness among riders, no rowdy youths or sloppy inebriates. It is all a very civil experience thusfar with a multi-national cast of characters.