The Doha Metro project was one of the largest projects for a single metro system in the world. It served to expand the Metro line in Qatar to help lessen the urban congestion caused by an increasing population – by linking Al Qassar in the north of Doha to Al Wakra in the south.
To solve the congestion, a system comprising 75 sets of driverless three-car trains, platform screen doors, tracks, a railway yard, systems for signalling, power distribution, telecommunications and tunnel ventilation was implemented, creating a largely automated network.
The project was a huge success reaching 110 000 passengers a day with a 330 000-passenger peak when it was finished in October 2019. Currently Qatar Rail are extending the metro to support the expected increase in passengers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup with an additional 75-110 three-car sets.
Utilising their Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) licenced personnel, Mainframe Communications supplied Thales Rail Signalling Solutions with fully built, wired and tested relay racks (with builds created directly from the book wiring), bespoke enclosures and accessories to assist in building the project.