The Peninsula
Mr. David Karl Screen, Operation and Maintenance Director at Qatar Rail, said that Doha Metro operates a state-of-the-art rail network.
He added: “Based on the fact that the Doha Metro network is one of the best and most modern in the world, the network has been designed to serve future generations. Our stations and their hallways, as noted by all our customers, are very spacious and have been built and designed to accommodate numbers of passengers that far exceed the current patronage. The train network is fully automated, which enhances our ability to increase its capacity and the number of trains operating, and this translates into the transportation of a larger number of passengers than usual when needed.”
He pointed out that all the operational systems of the network are integrated with alarm systems and other automated systems in place to monitor and ensure security, safety, and reliability of service across the network. In addition to the modern technologies used, sufficient and well-trained staff serve the network, and over the past few months, around 4,000 additional customer service staff have been appointed to support in serving customers and fans during the tournament.
David Karl Screen
Screen explained that fans using the network on a daily basis during the tournament will have a sufficient number of employees to help and guide them through implementing crowd management processes, organizing queues, and monitoring security, in addition to other public services to support and assist the fans.
He noted that one of the distinctive aspects of the services provided by Qatar Rail’s well-trained staff is the initiative to provide immediate assistance to fans and customers without waiting for them to request help.
Screen said that in the context of ensuring that all systems work together as required, an integrated command and control center was set up to monitor all processes and aspects related to the train network, such as station congestion, service reliability, security, and more.
He added that the command and control center is linked to the main coordination center for the World Cup, which monitors all tasks and operations related to transportation in Doha, and this allows rapid intervention in the case of any emergency or malfunction within the country’s transportation system. For example, if there is a problem with bus services, the train network can handle a heavier load and vice versa.
Screen continued: “The most important thing about this type of transportation system is our ability to spread messages and announcements in ways that the fans can rely on so that they can plan their journeys accordingly and enjoy the tournament and its cheerful vibes.”