Embedded Files
CITIES COVERED ON THIS PAGE;
IRAN x 7- Ahvaz - Esfahan - Mashad - Qom - Shiraz - Tabriz - Tehran.
ISRAEL x 2 - Haifa - Jerusalem.
SAUDI ARABIA x 1 - Mecca.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES x 1 - Dubai.
There is one metro system presently under construction in the Middle East located in;
Doha in Qatar which is due to open in 2019.
IRAN
IRAN x 7 - Ahvaz - Esfahan - Mashad - Qom - Shiraz - Tabriz -Tehran.
The Islamic Republic of Iran presently has five cities which provide a fully functioning metro system, Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan, Tabriz and Mashad, and two cities, Ahvaz and Qom, which are both awaiting the completion of underground systems within the next year.
Iranian metro systems run daily between 05.30 hrs and 23.00 hrs and are renowned for being very busy.
Women only carriages are available on these networks although it is not obligatory for women to use them.
Tickets can be obtained from manned ticket booths or automated ticket vending machines and there are also pre-paid smart cards available for regular travelers.
All system signage is displayed in both Farsi / فارسی / Persian and English.
AHVAZ
Ahvaz, Khouzestan.
The city of Ahvaz is awaiting the opening of it’s new underground metro system sometime during 2016.
The system will eventually comprise of twenty four stations but at it’s opening will comprise of one 23 kilometer long line with eleven stations.
Line 1 - 23 km – 11 stations at - Crossover - Ahvaz International Airport – Olive – Charshyr – Oil – Persian Gulf – Cultural Centre – Preparedness – Imam Khomeni – Salman Farsi – Station Clock.
AIR
The city is served by the Ahvaz International Airport. The airport is served by it’s own metro station, known as the Airport Station, located on Line 1 of the metro system.
RAIL
The Ahvaz central railway station is located on the city’s Railway Square located along Sepah Road. The station is served by it’s own metro station, known as the Station Clock metro station, located on Line 1.
You can access the metro website by visiting
ESFAHAN
قطار شهری اصفهان و حومه
Esfahan, Isfahan Province.
The city of Isfahan is at present served by a twenty one kilometer metro line which is served by twenty one stations. The line, which is
known as the North / South Line and was opened in 2015, is the first line of a planned four line metro system for the city which will be
finished in late 2016 early 2017.
METRO
North / South Line – 21 km – 20 stations at Pasdaran – Behashti – Khajeh Nasir – Sheikh Nahees – Metahari – Jaber – Kaveh – Chamran – Mederes – Shohada – Takhti – Imam Hussein – Enghelab – 33 POL – Mirdamed – Shariati – Azadi – Sheikh Koleini – Kargar – Khabgah – Sofeh.
AIR
Isfahan is served by the Shahid Baheshti International Airport. The airport is served by a regular bus service and local taxi services.
A new international terminal is presently being built at the airport.
RAIL
Isfahan is served by a railway station located some fifteen kilometers outside of the old town. The station is accessible by local bus or taxi service.
There is currently a High Speed Rail (HSR) station being built in the city which is located next to the Kaveh Bus Terminal, which is served by it's own metro station on the North / South line.
BUS
Isfahan is served by several long distance bus stations two of which, the one located at Kaveh and the one located at Sofeh, are served by their own metro stations on the North / South line.
You can access the metro's website by visiting
MASHAD
قطار شهری مشهد
Mashad, Razavi Khorasan.
Iran's second largest city Mashad is, at present, served by a 19 kilometer long mass rapid transit system, known as the Green Line, which consists of twenty two stations. A second 14 kilometer line, which will be known as the Blue Line, is presently under construction and when completed will consist of twelve stations located between Koohsangi and Tabarsi. The city also has another two planned lines.
METRO
Line 1 - 19 km - 21 stations at Ghadir - Estesami - Hafez - Basij - Imam Khomeni - Shariat - Pastor - Taleghani - Phalestine - Khaiyam - Azadi Park - Kosair - Hashimieh - Daneshamooz - Daneshjoo - Sedaf - Tarbist - Dandanpezestikan - Namayeshgah - Koochestan Park - Torghaken - Shahid Hashemi International Airport.
AIR
Mashad is served by the Shahid Hashemi Nejad International Airport. At present the airport is served by several frequent bus services for connections into downtown Mashad, but there are plans to serve the airport by way of a station on Line 1 of the metro in the near future.
RAIL
Mashad Railway Station - ایستگاه راه آهن مشهد - is located on the city's Railway Square which can be accessed from the city's Shahid Keshvari Boulevard.
You can access the system's website by visiting
QOM
پایکاه خبری مونوریل قم
Qom, Qom.
The religious city of Qom is served by way of a newly opened six kilometer long monorail which is served by five stations. The system will eventually become an eighteen kilometer system with seventeen stations.
MONORAIL
Monorail – 6 km – 5 stations at Qom / Kashan Freeway – Vali Asr – 15 Khordad – Moozah Saheli – Jamkaran Mosque.
AIR
Qom's international airport is presently under construction. Travelers therefore use the country's main airport in Tehran which can be accessed by way of several daily high speed rail links.
RAIL
Qom Railway Station / ايستگاه راهآهن قم is located along the city's Istgah Street. The station is served by a regular daily high speed rail links to Istfahan, Tehran and Tehran International Airport.
BUS
Qom's inter city bus terminal / ترمینال مسافربری قم is located within walking distance of the city's Railway Station.
SHIRAZ
وب سایت رسمی سازمان قطار شهری شیراز و حومه
Shiraz, Fars.
The Iranian city of Shiraz has a brand new 24.5 kilometer long light rail, metro system which was opened in 2014.
The system consists of twenty one stations, twenty of which are underground.
The system also includes an 8.5 kilometer and a 16 kilometer line which are both presently under construction.
METRO
Line 1 - 22.4 km - 21 stations at - Gol e Sorkh Square - Bridgestone Street - Sardkhaneh - Podonak - Ghadir - Zahra Boulevard - Fazilat - Kaveh - Vali Asr Square - Zir Gosar - Zand Cross - Imam Hossein Square - Sadi - Mola Sadra - Afif Abad - Motahari - Ghasr Dashit Square - Chamran Bridge - Mirza Koochar Khan Square - Khalabanaan - Ehsan Square.
AIR
Shiraz is served by the Shiraz Dastgheib International Airport. The airport is located very near to the Gol e Sorkh Square / Red Rose Square which is served by a metro station of the same name.
Alternatively one can take a local bus service, which can be caught outside the arrivals hall, or one can arrange with their hotels for an airport pickup service. This can be done by prior arrangement either by phone or by e-mail in either Farsi or English.
You can access the system's website by visiting
TABRIZ
مترو تبریز
TABRIZ, East Azerbaijan.
The ancient city of Tabriz is at present served by a one line metro system which is served by six stations. The line, which opened in 2015, will eventually contain seventeen stations which is the first of a four line metro system planned for the city.
METRO
Line 1 - 7km - 6 stations at El Goli - Sahand - Emam Reza - Khayyam - 29 Bahman - Ostad Shahriar.
AIR
Tabriz is served by the Shahid Madani of Tabriz International Airport / فرودگاه بین المللی تبریز . The airport is served by regular taxi services for transport into downtown Tabriz. Car hire and local bus services are also available.
RAIL
Tabriz Railway Station / ايستگاه راه اهن تبریز - is located on the city's Rahahan Square. The station is not served by the city metro system.
BUS
All of the city metro stations are served by rapid transit bus services as are the airport and the railway station. The city's main bus terminal is located on the city's Mordad Square.
TEHRAN
متروی تهران
TEHRAN, Tehran Province.
The Islamic Republic of Iran's capital city Tehran has a 170 kilometer long rapid transit system which consists of five lines which are served by ninety five stations. The system began operation in 1999 after a mammoth twenty year long planning and construction program.
METRO
Line 1 - 42 km - 29 stations at - Tajrish - Gheytariyeh - Shahid Sadr - Gholhak - Doctor Shari'ati - Mirdamad - Shahid Haghani - Shahid Hemmat - Mosalla - Shahid Beheshti - Shahid Mofatteh - Haft-e Tir - Taleghani - Darvazeh Dowlat - Sa'adi - Emam Khomeini - Panzdah-e Khordad - Khayyam - Molavi - Shoosh Terminal-e Jonoob - Khazaneh - Ali Abad - Javanmard-e Ghassab - Shahr-e Rey - Bagher Shahr - Shahed - Haram-e Motahhar - Kahrizak.
The above line connects with Line 2 at Sa'adi metro station, with Line 3 at Mosalla metro station and with Line 4 at Taleghani metro station.
Line 2 - 26 km - 22 stations at - Tehran Sadeghieh - Tarasht - Daneshgah-e Sharif - Shademan - Shahid Navvab-e Safavi - Meydan Horr - Daneshgah-e Emam Ali - Hasan Abad - Emam Khomeini - Mellat - Baharestan - Darvazeh Shemiran - Emam Hossein - Shahid Madani - Sabalan - Fadak - Golbarg - Sarsabz - Daneshgah-e Elm-o San'at - Shahid Bagheri - Tehranpars - Farhangsara.
The above line connects with Line 1 at Emam Khomeini metro station, with Line 4 at Shademan & Darvazeh Shemiran metro stations and with Line 5 at Tehran Sadeghieh metro station.
Line 3 - 37 km - 15 stations at - Ghaem - Nobonyad - Shahid Zeyn-o-ddin - Shahid Beheshti - Meydan Jahad - Meydan Vali Asr - Vali Asr - Moniriyeh - Rahahan - Javadiyeh - Zamzam -Shahrak-e Shari'ati - Abdol Abad - Ne'mat Abad - Azadegan.
The above line connects with Line 1 at Shahid Zeyn-o-ddin metro station and with Line 4 at Meydan Vali Asr metro station.
Line 4 -22 km - 18 stations at - Ekbatan (Eram-e Sabz) - Shahrak-e Ekbatan - Meydan Azadi - Ostad Moein - Doctor Habib-o-llah - Shademan - Towhid - Meydan Enghelab-e Eslami - Vali Asr - Ferdowsi - Darvazeh Dowlat - Darvazeh Shemiran - Meydan Shohada - Sheykh-o-raeis - Piroozi - Nabard Nirooye Havaei - Shahid Kolahdooz.
The above line connects with Line 1 at Ferdowsi metro station, with Line 2 at Doctor Habib-o-llah metro station, with Line 3 at Meydan Enghelab-e Eslami metro station and with Line 5 at Ekbatan (Eram-e Sabz) metro station.
Line 5 - 43 km - 11 stations at - Golshahr - Mohammad Shahr (Mahdasht) - Karaj - Atomosfer - Garmdarreh - Vardavard - Iran Khodro - Chitgar - Varzeshgah-e Azadi - Ekbatan (Eram-e Sabz) - Tehran Sadeghieh.
The above line connects with Line 2 at Ekbatan (Eram-e Sabz) metro station and with Line 4 at Varzeshgah-e Azadi metro station.
AIR
Tehran is served by the Imam Khomeini International Airport. The airport is served by the nearby Haram-e Motahhar metro station located on the system's Line 1. Regular airport shuttle buses, which leave from outside the terminal buildings, run to and from this station throughout the day.
Line 1 of the metro system connects with metro Line 2 at the Sa'adi metro station, with metro Line 3 at the Mosalla metro station and with metro Line 4 at the Taleghani metro station.
RAIL
Tehran Central Railway Station / ايستگاه راه اهن تهران - is located on Rahahan Square located at the south end of the city's Vali Asr Street. The station is served by it's own metro station on metro Line 3.
Line 3 of the metro connects with metro Line 1 at the Shahid Zeyn-o-ddin metro station and with metro Line 4 at the Meydan Vali Asr metro station.
You can access the metro website by visiting
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ISRAEL
ISRAEL x 2 - Haifa - Jerusalem
There is currently a metro system under construction in the city of Tel Aviv which is due to open in 2017.
HAIFA
Haifa, Haifa District.
Israel’s third largest city Haifa has a 1.8 kilometer underground funicular railway known as the Carmelit. This tiny but steep subway, where there is a 274 meter difference in height between it's Paris Square Station and Gan Ha'em Station, travels up and down the city's Mount Carmel, after which it was named, and was originally opened in 1956 but was closed for six years before finally being re-opened again in 1986.
The Carmelit operating times are -
Sunday–Thursday - 06:00 – 22:00 hrs.
Friday and holiday eves - 06:00 – 15:00 hrs.
Saturdays - 19:00 – 24:00 hrs.
THE CARMELIT
1.8 km - 6 stations at Paris Square – Solel Boneh – Manevi’im – Massada – Bney Zion – Gan Ha’em.
COMMUTER RAIL
The Nahariya - Tel Aviv Coastal Railway - 6 stations at - Haifa Hof Ha Carmel - Haifa Bat Galim - Haifa Merkaz Ha Shmona Center - Lev Ha Mifratz - Hutzot Ha Mifratz - Kiryat Haim.
The Kiryat Line - 7 stations at Kiryat Motzkin - Kiryat Haim - Hutzot Ha Mifratz - Lev Ha Mifratz - Haifa Merkaz Ha Shmona Center - Haifa Bat Galim - Haifa Hof Ha Carmel.
INTER CITY RAIL
Nahariya / Beersheba Line - 17 stations at - Akko - Kiryat Motzkin - Kiryat Haim - Hutzot Ha Mifratz - Lev HaMifratz - Haifa Haifa Merkaz Ha Shmona Center - Haifa Bat Galim - Haifa Hof Ha Carmel - Atlit - Binyamina - Tel Aviv University - Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station - Tel Aviv Ha Shalom - Tel Aviv Ha Hagana - Lod - Kiryat Gat - Lehavim - Beersheba North.
CABLE CARS
Haifa is served by two cable cars, the popular Mount Carmel Cable Car which runs between the Bat Galim Promenade and the Carmelite Monastery and the University Of Haifa Cable Car which runs the 4.4 kilometers between Hamifratz Central Bus Station and Haifa University.
The Haifa Cable Car
AIR
Visitors to Israel will arrive at the Ben Gurion International Airport. The airport is served by a railway station located below Terminal 3 which will link passengers to the Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station -תחנת תל אביב סבידור מרכז - in around twenty minutes. From here passengers can then take an inter city train through to Haifa.
RAIL
The Haifa Merkaz Ha Shmona Center Railway Station - תחנת הרכבת חיפה מרכז השמונה - is located on the city's Plumer Square - Kikar Plumer - כיכר פלומר - and is served by the Nahariya -Tel Aviv Coastal Railway, the Kiryat Commuter Line and the Nahariya to Beersheba inter city line. The station is located just a short walk from the Kikar Paris - Paris Square - כיכר פריז - metro station.
The Tel Aviv Ha Shalom Railway Station - תחנת תל אביב השלום - is located along the city's Givat HaTahmoshet Street.
The Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station - תחנת תל אביב סבידור מרכז - is located along the city's Al Parashat Drakhim Street.
BUS
Haifa is served by two long distance bus stations, the Ha Mifratz Central Bus Station which is located adjacent to the Lev Ha Mifratz Railway Station and the Haifa Hof Ha Carmel Central Bus Station which is located along the city's Sakharov Street, adjacent to the Hof Ha Carmel Railway Station.
You can access the metro website by visiting
JERUSALEM
Jerusalem, Jerusalem District.
Israel's holy city of Jerusalem has a 13.9 kilometer elevated, rapid transit, light rail system which is served by twenty stations, which was opened in 2011.
The system, which travels at 50 km/h and takes 46 minutes to travel from beginning to end, is the first phase of three line system which has another two lines currently under construction.
The line operates between 05.30 hours and 23.30 hours Sundays to Thursdays and from 05.30 hours up to an hour before sunset on Fridays. The system does not operate during Shabbatt or on Jewish holidays.
LIGHT RAIL
Red Line - 13.9 km - 23 stations - Heil Ha Avir – Sayaret Dukhifat – Pisgat Ze’ev Centre – Yukuti’ei Adam – Beit Hanina – Shu’afat – Es Sahl – Giv’at Ha Miutar – Ammunition Hill – Shimon Ha Tsadik – Shiutei Israel – Damascus Gate – City Hall – Jaffa Centre – Ha Davidka – Mahane Yehuda – Ha Turim – Central Bus Station – Kiryat Moshe – He Haluts – Denia Square – Yafeh Nof – Mount Herzi.
INTER CITY RAIL
The Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Line - 9 stations at - Jerusalem Railway Station - Jerusalem Malha - Jerusalem Biblical Zoo - Beit Shemesh - Ramla - Lod - Tel Aviv Ha Hagana - Tel Aviv Ha Shalom -Tel Aviv Central.
AIR
Visitors to Israel will arrive at the Ben Gurion International Airport. The airport is served by a railway station located below Terminal 3 which will link passengers to the Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station - תחנת תל אביב סבידור מרכז - in around twenty minutes. From here passengers can then take an inter city train through to Jerusalem.
RAIL
Jerusalem Central Railway Station - תחנת הרכבת ירושלים - is located along the city's David Remez Street. The station is served by the Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Inter city rail line.
Jerusalem's Malha Railway Station - תחנת הרכבת ירושלים מלחה - is located opposite the city's Teddy Stadium and Payis Arena both of which are located in the city's Malha district. The station is served by the Jerusalem to Tel Aviv inter city rail service.
The Tel Aviv Ha Shalom Railway Station - תחנת תל אביב השלום - is located along the city's Givat HaTahmoshet Street.
The Tel Aviv Savidor Central Railway Station - תחנת תל אביב סבידור מרכז - is located along the city's Al Parashat Drakhim Street.
BUS
Jerusalem's Central Bus Station - Ha Tahanah Ha Merkazit Shel Yerushalayim - התחנה המרכזית של ירושלים - is located along the city's Jaffa Road - Rehov Yaffo - רחוב יפו - and is served by a station on the city's light rail system.
You can access the metro website by visiting
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SAUDI ARABIA
There is currently a metro system under construction in the city of Riyadh which plans to open in 2019.
MECCA
MECCA, Makkah Province
The holy city of Mecca is home to the world's first metro system designed and built specifically for the use of religious pilgrims. The 18.1 kilometer elevated, Al Mashaar Al Muqaddesh Metro system, consists of one line which is served by nine stations which take in all the religious sites situated between the city's Arafat and Jamarat areas. There are plans to extend the system in the future to incorporate three more lines and an airport service.
The system, which became operational in 2010, was built to ease the congestion in the city during the annual pilgrimage known as the Hajj, which results in the largest gathering of humankind on the planet.
METRO
Al Mashaar Al Muqaddesh - 18.1 km - 9 stations - Arafat 1 - Arafat 2 - Arafat 3 - Muzdalifah 1 - Muzdalifah 2 - Muzdalifah 3 - Mina 1 - Mina 2 - Jamarat.
AIR
Mecca is served by the King Abdullaziz International Airport, sometimes listed as Jeddah Airport. The airport is served by several bus and taxi services which travel into downtown Jeddah and to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
For passengers arriving for the annual Hajj they will arrive at the airport's Hajj Terminal which is served by several local buses and taxis situated outside the arrivals hall.Some of the city's more upmarket hotels may well offer a courtesy pick - up car.
For those who speak Arabic local buses are the cheapest form of transport into the holy city but are probably best avoided if travelling with lots of luggage or small children. There are plenty of taxis but do bear in mind that they suddenly become very expensive at this time.
Bus and taxi journey times from the King Abdullaziz International Airport to Jeddah take around forty minutes, to Mecca the journey time is around two hours fifteen minutes and to Medina the journey time is around five hours thirty minutes.
BUS
Mecca's inter-city Saptco Bus Station is located along the city's Abah Street. The station is not served by the metro system.
PLEASE NOTE
If hiring a car at the airport do remember that women are not allowed to drive anywhere in the kingdom.
For Non Muslims remember that entry into the holy city is strictly forbidden, so be clear about this at the time of booking a hotel so that accommodation can be found on the outskirts of the city.
The metro system does not appear to have a website
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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
There is currently a metro system under construction in the city of Abu Dhabi which is due to open in 2017.
DUBAI
The city of Dubai has both an underground and elevated monorail, rapid transit system, both of which became the Emirates first ever metro system when they opened in 2009.
The system is also the world's longest automated (driverless) system at 74.6 kilometers.
The metro is 74.6 kilometers long and consists of two lines which are served by forty seven stations, all of which provide station signage, train voice overs and system maps in Arabic and English.
The trains also provide women and children only carriages.
The system runs from 06.00 hours - 23.00 hours on Saturdays to Thursdays and from 14.00 hours - 24.00 hours on Fridays.
Rechargable, contactless, smart cards, known as NOL cards can be purchased from card vending machines located at all of the system's metro stations. There are four types of smart card, all of which can only be purchased with a credit card, the red, the blue, the silver and the gold with the red card being the most popular with visitors. For more information please visit - www.nol.ae.
This metro is the world's longest automated (driverless) system and it is home to the world's largest metro station, the Union Square Station, which covers an area of 67,056 square meters and it's Red Line is home to the longest tunnel in the middle east at 1.6 kilometers long.
METRO
Red Line - 52.1 km - 29 stations - Rashidiya الراشدية - Emirates طيران الإمارات - Airport Terminal 3 المطار- مبنى رقم 3 - Airport Terminal 1 المطار- مبنى رقم 1 - GGICO جي جي كو - Deira City Centre ديرة سيتي سنتر - Al Rigga الرقة - Union Square الاتحاد - Bur Juman برجمان - Al Karama الكرامة - Al Jafiliya الجافلية - World Trade Centre المركز التجاري العالمي - Emirates Towers أبراج الإمارات - Financial Centre المركز المالي - Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall دبي مول / برج خليفة - Business Bay الخليج التجاري - Noor Bank نور بنك - First Gulf Bank بنك الخليج الأول - Mall of the Emirates مول الإمارات - Sharaf DG شرف دي جي - Dubai Internet City مدينة دبي للانترنت - Nakheel نخيل - Dubai Marina مرسى دبي - Jumeirah Lake Towers أبراج بحيرات جميرا - Nakheel Harbour & Tower نخيل هاربر أند تاور - Ibn Battuta ابن بطوطة - Energy - Danube - محطة مترو دانوب - Jebel Ali - جبل علي .
The Red Line connects with the Dubai Tram at the Jumeirah Lakes Towers metro station and the Dubai Marina metro station.
Green Line - 22.5 km - 18 stations at Etisalat – Al Qusais - Airport Free Zone / Terminal 2 Dubai International Airport - Al Nahda - Al Rashid Stadium - Al Qiyadah - Abu Hail - Abu Bakr Seddiq - Salahuddin - Union Square – Baniyas Square - Palm Deira - Al Ras - Al Ghubaiba - Al Fahidi - Khalid Bin Al Waleed – Oud Metha - Healthcare City - Jaddaf 1 - Creek.
The above two lines connect at the Union Square metro station.
TRAM
ترام دبي
14.5 km - 11 stations at Jumeirah Beach Residences 1 - Jumeirah Beach Residences 2 - Jumeirah Lakes Towers - Dubai Marina Mall - Dubai Marina - Marina Towers - Mina al Seyahi - Media City - Palm Jumeirah - Knowledge Village - Al Soufah.
The Dubai Tram connects with the metro's Red Line at the Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Dubai Marina metro stations.
MONORAIL
Palm Jumeirah Monorail - 5.45 km - 4 stations at Atlantis - Palm Mall - Gateway - Dubai Internet City.
The monorail connect with the tram at the Palm Mall stop.
AIR
Dubai is served by the Dubai International Airport. The airport is served by it's own metro stations for links into downtown Dubai.
The Red Line has a station at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 and the Green Line has a station located at the Airport Free Zone which is linked to Terminal 2.
The airport metro runs daily between 06.00 hours and 23.00 hours, except on Thursdays and religious holidays when the service closes early.
Some information about the system can be accessed by visiting
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