The construction of a 14.6-km-long tram line that serves Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai Marina and Al Sufouh is now in the final phase and is expected to be ready for operations by November 2014, a report said.

Construction of the Al Sufouh tram system is 70 per cent complete, a report in Gulf News quoted a senior Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official as saying.

The majority of the track works are completed, while cabling has just begun in what is going to be the world’s first tramway project powered by a ground-based electric supply system extending all along the track, the report said.

“More than 13,000 metres of tracks have been laid already, which includes the operational as well as depot tracks, amounting to 70 per cent of civil work,” said Adnan Al Hammadi, chief executive officer of RTA’s Rail Agency.

“We are on track to begin the operations by the end of next year. Most work on tracks and stations will be completed before we receive the first set of trains in December enabling us to start trial runs,” said Al Hammadi.

He highlighted that trams and traffic will meet at 30 locations but the trams will not interrupt traffic at any point.

“Trams will have right of way but there will be no obstruction to traffic movement. Routes and tracks have been designed to ensure there are no contact between trams and vehicles. Pavements have been designed to be elevated to fend off vehicles access or crossing into the tramway as per the approved specifications,” he added.