By HANNAH OOI
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DUBAI'S Palm Monorail will be operated and maintained by SMRT Engineering (Middle East) FZE, also known as SMRTE.
Dubai master developer Nakheel has signed a six- year contract with SMRTE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore's SMRT Corporation, worth 50 million UAE dirhams (S$20.3 million) a year.
The monorail is undergoing final tests before it starts operating in April.
'The system uses state- of-the-art technology at every level and will set a benchmark for transport in the Middle East,' said Nakheel chief executive Chris O'Donnell.
Unique technology has been used to overcome challenges such as running a kilometre of rail over the sea, coping with Dubai's changing climate and installing a virtually silent track to protect communities from noise pollution.
Fully automatic and driverless, the monorail will initially carry up to 2,400 passengers an hour in each direction in four trains each made up of three cars. At full capacity, it will hold up to 6,000 people in nine vehicles.
SMRTE is now responsible for the overall operational management of the system, as well as the daily operations of its stations and general maintenance.
SMRT president and CEO Saw Phaik Hwa said: 'SMRT brings to the partnership over 20 years of engineering expertise, as well as experience in operating and maintaining a leading metro system anchored on the highest standards of reliability, safety and efficiency. Given our track record, we are confident of delivering a premier monorail system befitting of a world- class development.'
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