Rashidiya Station by Car, Wifi & Tricky Nols

<< Train entering Rashidiya station toward Nakheel Harbour & Towers terminus.

Rashidiya station access by car is the topic I will look at first today. There are two entrances that I know of, possibly a third.

One is easily taken by following Airport Rd. from the direction of city center toward Khawaneej. There are signs to guide you as you near the station and finally enter by exiting right and following the driveway into the parking structure.

A second entrance is from Emirates Rd., Dubai bound from Sharjah. Again there are signs as one approaches the Rashidiya exit which requires one to basically keep right until eventually reaching the parking entrance ramp, at which point cars follow the left lane and buses/truckes follow the right. (It is all clearly marked, but the key is to remain in the far right lane while exiting Emirates Rd.)

I presume there is a third access route when coming from Emirates Rd., Sharjah bound, which most likely merges with the ramp from the Dubai bound Emirates Rd. exit. In addition, if coming along Airport Rd. from the direction of Khawaneej, one can make a U-turn at the signal just in front of the station and take the immediate right exit into the parking structure.

Wifi no goes....

My wifi troubles continue. I decided to go for as unfettered usage as possible by opting for the expensive 200 dhs package which gives one 60 hrs of use within a 60-day validity period. (It's a sucky package but that is the best per minute rate available.)

Lo and behold one cannot register with a credit card but must go and buy a Du prepaid card from somewhere. The only credit card option available is one hour for 10 dhs. So, frustrated but with no other choice, I enter all my details online to make the 10 dhs payment.

Press submit... OK. Then press proceed... nothing. Press again, wait 2, 3, 4 minutes, still nothing.

I go back to repeat the process. Enter all details and press submit... OK. Then press proceed.... Nothing! Effectively, there is no way to get online. My wifi experience on the metro just gets more and more complicated as the days go by.

Tricky Nol...

Confused by Nol? Or is it just one of the interesting ceilings in the Dubai Mall? >>

I don't think I have the knack of using the Nol card correctly yet. Does anyone?

A pamphlet handed out to me on the bus today explains that one must continue to tap the Nol card on the reader until a green flashing light appears. On exiting the bus and tapping my card, I saw only a yellow light, and somewhat distracted with a heavy bag and hands occupied I exited without re-tapping.

The lesson to be learnt, be very attentive with the Nol card! Focus, focus, make sure hands are free and any otherwise distracting issues have been put aside.

Take the Nol card in hand, zero in on the reader, wave, wiggle, press or tap the card on the reader, pay attention to all flashing lights and numbers and be ready to repeat the procedure if need be. (This applies to using the Nol card with the bus--at least on the metro the wicket won't let you through until the procedure is properly carried out.)

Now, please go back and review the process again. Fail to master it at your own peril.

Still, this leaves unanswered questions. Is there a window of time in which one must scan his/her Nol card before exiting the bus? E.g. do you scan it before the bus has stopped, while it is stopping or after it has completely stopped--or can you just take the exit scan at anytime? Can misreading occur, i.e. can a scan to get off the bus be mistakenly read as a scan to get on the bus, thus resulting in a double charge of some sort?

Just a few issues surrounding the tricky Nols. I'm sure any one who has used either bus or metro since the Nol cards debuted has a few of his or her own.

Update:

Seeing the yellow light after scanning my Nol card on exiting the bus this morning, I feared my scan was in error and I would thus be penalized. In the evening on scanning when exiting the bus again, the same result: solid yellow light, not green and flashing. So why, I wonder, does the RTA explanation read:

How to use NOL Card/Ticket...

• Check out at the end of journey by tapping the card/ticket on the card readers.
  
• A successful tag is followed by the green light blinking, and this means that the check-in/check-out was successful.
  
• Must continue tapping the reader until the green light blinks.

This info is contained in a pamphlet I was handed while sitting on the bus this morning. However, having done the check-out procedure twice now, I have yet to see any green light, only yellow. Am I color blind? As I've said, tricky Nol. In the end both check-outs registered as normal and I was not charged any additional fares. It was a false alarm, but it certainly added to my confusion today. << SZR towers near Financial Center metro station at dusk.

P.S.

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For clarification (maybe) visit the NOL home--it's actually a well-laid out, informative site.

Read a fascinating description of an upcoming attraction for another one of Dubai's incredible landmarks:
Experience At The Top of the world vistas at Burj Dubai observatory.

Metro Etiquette?

<< Dubai Mall looking fancy, with Eid celebrants and shoppers. The evening commute, about 6 pm, saw a crowded, but not packed train. Migrating to the less crowded carriages I found a set of four seats (2 facing 2) with one empty. In the other 3 seats were 3 women shrouded in black. As I sat down in the empty seat the three ladies reacted with obvious disapproval. Shall I stay seated? Of course I will, I thought. There is a separate ladies' cabin if they object to the presence of a man, I thought--and after all, they were shrouded in black. What more defenses did they need? Before I could make a stand to hold my ground they gestured toward a man sitting across the aisle from us, obviously one in their party, to exchange his seat with me. We exchanged seats, confrontation averted. So what is proper etiquette here? They could share a seat with a man in their party, so why did they not do so from the beginning? And again, there is the women and children's cabin available to them, so I feel I was in the right to remain seated. I was lucky anyway to have a seat, whichever one it was. I could then whip out my laptop and begin editing some photos. I had checked the gold cabin to see if it was perhaps not full while all the other cabins were. Indeed, that was the case; it wasn't full. So, it would seem if one really wants a seat, then he or she is likely to get one in the gold cabin even while all others are full.

<< Speaking of fancy, what great design at Harman Kardmon! Is it really good etiquette to indulge in my laptop while riding, instead of possibly interacting with fellow riders? As a touch typist, I'm usually able to look around or at least glance up while typing. So I'm quite ready to make that connection with fellow commuters, should the opportunity avail itself.

What a great combination of TV and stand--also at Harman House. Unfortunately the stand was for display only. >> Speaking of the laptop... I still have gripes with the wifi--the high cost and the nuisance involved in having to log in each time even if you've paid. I don't think I've even seen anyone else using a laptop while riding, besides myself. Am I the only nerd, or is the not-so-practical wifi service putting people off? I've come to reason that the most practical payment option is to go for 25 hours at 100 dhs. That way I would not have to worry about always logging in and logging off to avoid wasting expensive minutes. But even this plan is rather unreasonable as it expires in 30 days. So, if you don't use it you easily lose it. Du, the provider, really has a consumer unfriendly service.

Gold Class

A little bit of class--gold class cabin comforts. >>

Today I've decided to try a bit of luxury by taking the gold class. It's something one has to try as I suppose it is a novelty for a metro. I have been on over a dozen different metro systems around the world and this is the first I've seen with different classes.

So, how does it differ from the cattle classes? Well, actually, the regular cabins are fine as they are. The seating is comfortable, the decor nice and there is ample space, except of course when the train fills up.

At the beginning run of the line--on those first heady days--there were no class distinctions, it seems, as everyone simply boarded and sat or stood where they liked. Many people were so enthusiastic about taking photos (myself included) that they loaded into the gold class cabin for a view through the picture window at the front of the driverless trains.

Tunneling toward the underground stations. >>

Now, as I start my gold class journey I find that I'm in the company of several Emiratis. It is the whole idea of this class that it will coax Emiratis to give up their cars. They would otherwise shun any form of public transportation as, shall I say, being below them. Such have many Emiratis been spoiled by the many luxuries available to those with money and position in this country.

Time will tell whether the ruler's plan works and gold class is successful in getting more Emiratis to ride. The cabin, itself, makes up only half of a single carriage so it isn't particularly large, and it seats only 18 or so.

The key attraction of this class, in fact, is the seats--of padded leather, with head and arm rests. Well, I can confirm that the seats are very comfortable, more befitting a longer journey, rather than a workday commute.

<< One of the larger underground stations, Union Station.

I have to say I am really enjoying the way riding in this class facilitates typing on my laptop. Also, the front-facing orientation of some of the seats allows one to look right out through the front of the train, which is particularly nice. Is it worth the cost, which is double that of the regular fare? I would say definitely yes, but only if your ride is more that just a couple of stops. There would be no point in doing it for only a 10 or 15 minute hop, skip and jump.

Interestingly there are seat trays on seat backs allowing those seated behind them to have their coffee and donut. But then, there is no eating on the trains, so one will have to store something else there. It has a luggage compartment too, so this may be the way to go if you are riding to the airport.

How, you may wonder, do they restrict non-gold card carriers from riding in this section? One passes through the ticket wicket with his/her respective card and then is able to choose wherever he/she likes to sit or stand on the train.

After the metro, it's a bus ride for me along Sheikh Zayed Road. >>

Well, today on entering the gold class cabin we were asked to show our cards. It seems that the cabin crew are ready to take a quick inspection of the cards of anyone boarding the gold class cabin at every stop. So, it is good to keep one's card in hand.

That said, it is still a matter of the honor system. The cards are not scanned so anyone carrying a spare gold card may flash it whether they used it to enter the station interior or not. This will probably change in time.

The main thing I would miss in taking the gold cabin is the opportunity to mix with more of Dubai's working classes.

Crowd Control

<< Rashidiya metro station picking up Eid passenger traffic.

Yesterday, the second day of Eid and a nearly universal holiday for workers, meant there were going to be crowds at the more popular city attractions, and the metro is probably near the top of the list of things to experience in Dubai.

I would have preferred to avoid the metro, but it was my only chance to treat to the experience an out of town friend who otherwise wouldn't have been able to get the time off.

We joined hundreds of others in what turned out to be a full-blown, potentially crushing crowd at the Rashidiya station just after sunset.


Growing crowds of holidaying metro tourists. >>

The parking lot had two and a half of its seven levels full--over twice what has thusfar been normal on a work day--and the crowds materialized at the entrance to the foot bridge crossing that leads from the carpark lobby to the ticketing lobby.

It was after about an hour of waiting and enduring moderate pushing when we were told by the station managers that the station was closed and no one else would be allowed to enter.

The station was not closed, in fact, but this was perhaps the most effective way to manage what were otherwise impossible numbers. It was quite obvious that we were, 99% of us I would presume, metro tourists. So, no harm in being told to just go home.

The situation could easily have become hazardous had no crowd control measures been taken or had the crowd been required to wait there much longer.

The following measures which were taken in the interim were of limited, but critical, effectiveness:

1. All doors, but one, were closed in order to regulate movement of the crowd from the car park lobby to the ticketing lobby. (In fact, the flow was not regulated but simply halted.)
   
2. The crowd was held at bay in the car park lobby and on the steps (not good) leading up to the foot bridge which led to the ticketing lobby. (This would prevent crowding issues in the ticketing lobby and on the boarding platform but not right there in the car park lobby itself.)
   
3. Passengers exiting the station were required to take the exit stairs before reaching the car park lobby. (Good move, no caveats on this one.)
   
4. An English and then an Urdu speaker announced through a megaphone that women and children should migrate to one side of the wide footbridge entrance and men to the other, with a 30:70 ratio of men (the larger number) to women and children (another good move).
   
5. It was requested that everyone remain patient and calm. (The most simple and effective measure taken.)

⇑ Two station officials attempt to control the crowds. Man at right (speaking in English) cool and collected but soon nowhere to be seen, man at left (speaking in Urdu) making a frantic and noble attempt to keep things under control.

Thankfully, the final two measures helped to avoid a potentially fatal push from the back of the crowd into the barricade of closed and blocked doors at the front. However, that did not prevent the male side of the crowd from becoming a bit aggressive when it seemed that some were finally being let through.

In response Emirati security personnel showed up and attempted to crudely order the crowd to line-up. That failing and clearly not possible due to the placement of the crowd, it was finally announced that the station was closed.

In the final analysis, there were at least two serious potential hazards in this situation, one, the closed doors leaving a portion of the crowd juxtaposed on steps with a growing crowd behind them, and the other, the long time (one hour) in which the crowd was left to swell without any information on when or how they would be eventually allowed to enter.

The crowd should have been dispersed in half that time if, as was the case, it was not possible to allow any flow into the station.

To the credit of the station masters, they did use a megaphone to address the crowd and in the two languages which were probably the most widely understood. It was also wise on their part to separate the men from the women & children. It was, in fact, not an unruly crowd--most seemed to appreciate our predicament. However, crowds will be crowds--people will eventually begin to jostle, and this did begin to happen.

Simple Alternatives

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People seem to forget that there are nearly always alternative courses of action one may take. One of those alternatives is to just abandon your plans and accept that there will be another day. Nothing, not even getting to work on time or getting there at all, is all important. When there is too much fog on the road, just call in and say you can't make it. When you're too tired, just pull off the road and take a nap.

<< The giant aquarium, one of Dubai Mall's star attractions.

The prudent measure was to announce the closure of the station. In whatever way people had gotten to the station, they could just as well leave the station in the same way.

I left in my car, with my small group of friends, and we drove to Dubai Mall where we also met huge holiday crowds. It was still a good evening out.

Later, when one in my party asked to be driven to the fish market area of Deira, I had to politely refuse.


Dubai Mall and the Burj Dubai tower's other main attraction, the free of cost Lake Fountain performance. >>.

I suppose he hadn't learned his lesson at the metro station, but I certainly had. I didn't want to lose another hour, this time trapped in a line of cars in Shindhaga tunnel.

I decided we would try Rashidiya station again, but instead of taking the parking lot entrance over the footbridge, we could enter the ticket lobby directly from street level.

It was two hours after our initial attempt and by this time the crowds had all cleared. My friends all got their first metro ride after all.

Studio on Rails

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<< I'm always camera-ready on the metro.

Dubai metro could take on this monicker.

Having debuted at a time when the mobile phone camera is ubiquitous and there are at least 2 mobile phones per capita in the UAE, there is no shortage of photographers on the metro trains.

A few of us even carry our SLRs and it seems both the officials and the passengers are comfortable with camera toting enthusiasts like me. Two passengers willingly allowed me to use the metro as their canvas. (It was their request and my pleasure to comply!)

If anyone notices this 6-foot forty-something on board with camera in hand, just say cheese and I'll be your willing photographer.

The metro is proving a good place to meet new people, like the two I met happy to have their photos taken, and I happy to oblige.

Terminal 3

It was evening Saturday, on the eve of Eid.

I somewhat reluctantly took the metro thinking it would be crowded with holiday riders.

My friend wanted to buy an airline ticket and I suggested we do it at Terminal 3 rather than taking the metro to Deira City Center or Mall of the Emirates, where I was sure we would face crowds.

It was also a good excuse to see both the terminal metro station and the new terminal itself.

It was a very short ride from Rashidiya station to T3 station--only one stop.

Rashidiya station wasn't crowded although there were obviously holiday riders--more women, children and families than one would see during the week.




The metro viaduct snakes toward the airport from Rashidiya.>>

I decided to explore the 7 level parking structure at the station with my friend, as I had the time, unlike when commuting to work.

It was surprising to see how massive the structure was with so little of it yet being utilized. There were fully seven levels of parking but only Level 1 and half of Level 2 had cars--only a small percentage of the 2700 car capacity.

The top level in fact was still partly under construction.



<< Train returns to Rashidiya station after switching tracks.

The top level also offered a vantage point for viewing the metro station and any incoming trains from above.

From there I could see how the trains leave the terminus and then soon return by simply switching tracks and heading back into the station, with carriages in the same orientation.

What this means is that the privileged Gold Class compartment is at the rear of the train when Rashidaya bound and, then, only at the head of the train when traveling from Rashidiya to Nakheel Harbour & Tower station at the opposite end of the line.



All Quiet on Both Fronts

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Terminal 3 metro platforms, one above the other. >>

It doesn't seem that airport commuters have taken to making much use of the metro yet as I have yet to see many passengers either embarking or disembarking there.

Today, my friend and I were the only ones to alight at the Terminal 3 station. The station itself was gleaming, and of very different design from the other stations.

It is smaller and interestingly has its two platforms stacked above and below each other.




<< The optical illusion of an escalator going down then up is somewhat disorientating on the T3 footbridge.

One takes the footbridge from the station directly into the airport terminal and again the design is completely different from that at any of the other foot bridgers.

The moving sidewalk, ironically, is much narrower--perhaps to discourage the transport of large pieces of luggage.

Once reaching Terminal 3 one finds himself/herself in a massive hall. But like the station it was extremely quiet of human traffic.



New terminal big and well-designed, but not particularly elegant. >>

I suppose the design of the metro station was intended to complement that of the terminal, but I would say that the metro station designs, whether this one or any of the others, were much more avant garde and stylish than the new airport terminal which, while massive, was rather uninspiring.

I feel the metro stations, whatever the type--underground, above ground or the unique airport stations--are so well-designed, not only functionally but even more so aesthetically.




<< Futuristic lighting in the Khalid Bin al Waleed station (aka Bur Juman). See more of Bur Juman station.

Several different adjectives could be used to describe the stations, which incorporate a variety of themes.

These include modern, post-modern and futuristic, also historical, elegant and grand. I love these stations... the trains are great, but the stations are incredible!