Dubai: Thousands of peak hour commuters were affected as train services on the Red Line of Dubai Metro came to halt around 7pm on Wednesday evening due to a technical glitch.

 

 

 

 

Tweep @silentmedia reported at 8pm: “The metro is facing a technical issue it appears" and warned followers to skip the train.

 

 

RT @BinduRai Guys, @RTA_Dubai#Dubai#Metro is facing a technical issue it appears. Services are stalled. Takes buses or cabs instead.

Others complained of lack of alternative modes of public transport, though some thought themselves lucky.

DubaiMetro stuck. #RTA quickly provided for buses at Mall of the Emirates station. — Francesco Gorreri (@F_Gorre) October 29, 2014

At around 8pm, passengers reported that the trains are back in motion and a number of passengers have reported finally arriving at their stop.

@TrafficDXB retweeted “Rashidiya trains seemed to be running OK”.

An hour earlier, passengers reported that "thousands" were stranded at several stations and spilled onto bus stops waiting for either public transport buses or taxis.

Technical glitch

A Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official said that a technical glitch on the Red Line affected services for about 30 minutes on both directions between Nakheel station and Business Bay station.

"A team of our engineers are on the tracks trying to ascertain the cause and fix the problem, normal services will resume shortly. In the meantime we have deployed buses and taxes in the affected sector," said Moaza Saeed Al Marri, Director of Communications and Marketing at RTA.

Service between Business Bay and Rashidiya as well as between Jebel Ali and Nakheel is running smoothly.

The service was disrupted for well over 30 minutes and commuters claimed they found it difficult get the buses as well.