The first metro line in Doha, the fully automated Red Line, opened on 8 May, serving 13 out of the 18 stations that it will serve upon completion.

The originally planned opening date was in 2020, but Qatar Rail has decided to open a “preview” service ahead of schedule to allow testing the Doha Metro system with passengers and provide an opportunity to evaluate and review performance, in preparation for the full operation of the network.

During this phase, the operating hours will be from 8 AM to 11 PM on weekdays, with a frequency of one train every five minutes. The service will stop during weekends to progress the work required to open more stations and lines.

Upon completion, the Red Line, also known as the Coast Line, will run for about 40km from Al Wakra in the south to Lusail in the north. The line will also connect to Hamad International Airport.

The driverless trains, which will be able to reach 100km per hour, consist of three cars, one of which will be for Gold and Family Class and two for Standard class.

The Doha Metro project consists of three lines. The other two lines, the Green Line and the Gold Line, will have 11 stations each.

It is operated by RKH Qitarat, a joint venture consisting of RATP Dev, Keolis and Hamad Group.

Sources: Qatar Rail / RATP