Officials expect new tram lines to spur local tourism growth
The Lusail Tram, which recently opened two new lines, is expected to spur ‘exponential growth’ in local tourism, especially within Lusail City, said an executive with Qatar Rail.
Lusail City, home to several iconic tourist destinations, has been attracting tourists by the thousands in recent years. It is also a hub for luxury residential homes, retail and food outlets, and offices for public and private sector entities.
Qatar Rail recently announced the launch of the Pink Line and completion of all Orange Line stations. Once the full tram network opens to the public, it will connect various government offices, residential towers, leisure and sports facilities, avenues, marinas, and other major attractions across Lusail City.
Engineer Ahmed Al Saleh, senior director of the Lusail Tram Project at Qatar Rail, said Qatar Rail’s focus has been on encouraging more people to use the tram, thus increasing ridership.
“More people using the tram service will drive tourism growth in the Lusail area. The expanded operations of Lusail Tram will also help entice more people to relocate and live in Lusail City’s residential neighbourhood,” he said.
Engineer Jassim Al Ansari, chief of Programme Delivery at Qatar Rail, said plans were afoot to add tram links, similar to Metro Link, to augment the riding public’s transportation needs.
“A study, as well as preparations for a tram link, are being put in place. But this will always depend on the ridership number. In Lusail, particularly, we need to be more careful. We need to know exactly where we can have more catchment of population and ridership to have effective operation of a tram link,” Al Ansari told Gulf Times.
“We’re in favor of increasing ridership and encouraging more people from the neighborhoods to use our network, considering the Lusail Tram is also connected to the Doha Metro network,” he added.
Ajlan Eid al-Enazi, Qatar Rail’s chief of Strategy and Business Development, said both the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram were important in helping the riding public save time.
Citing Qatar Rail’s successful experience during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Al Enazi said Doha Metro and Lusail Tram served as vital modes of transportation for many sports fans.
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