Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) announced that the Education City Station in Doha Metro has become the first metro station to receive the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) Operations Certificate in addition to previously obtained GSAS Design & Build 4-Star Certificate from the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD). The project has earned Platinum rating, reflecting environmentally responsible facility operations. To celebrate the achievement, an awarding ceremony was held at the station, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Managing Director & CEO of Qatar Rail, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, and senior management from GORD and Qatar Rail.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, H.E. Dr. Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Managing Director and CEO of Qatar Rail, said: “We are very pleased and proud that the Education City Station in Doha Metro has become the first metro station to receive the GSAS Platinum Certificate for sustainable operations from the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD). This is an unprecedented achievement due to our continuous efforts and reaffirms our full commitment to implementing the highest standards of sustainability which related to the operations of our various facilities.”

H.E. added: “The Qatar Rail projects have been distinguished, from the planning process to their operation, by using the latest technology and following the highest standards in performance and sustainability, which resulted in us obtaining prestigious accreditations, certificates and awards in the field of sustainability, which has become part of our projects’ work system. We are committed to providing a sustainable railway transportation system in Qatar in coordination with our strategic partners, and we look forward to launching more plans and initiatives in support of Qatar’s vision in the field of sustainability.”

Praising Qatar Rail’s efforts in the realm of environmental sustainability, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, said: “Qatar Rail’s efforts to enable an integrated metro system transcend beyond the delivery of a world-class transportation network. By offering state-of-the-art facilities, affordability and convenience, Doha Metro is supporting Qatar’s climate goals in line with the National Climate Change Plan and the country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement. But the most impactful outcome of Doha Metro is that it has truly shifted public mindsets as well as behaviors in favor of mass transportation which is inherently low-carbon in nature compared to private vehicles. In doing so, Qatar Rail has gone an extra mile and prioritized sustainability in every step of the way. Adopting GSAS operations for stations was a visionary move which the organization embraced to ensure the facilities remain environmentally sustainable in the long run. We are proud to be working with an organization that cares so deeply about the environment and is truly shaping the country’s progress to a sustainable future.”

Doha Metro is the world’s first metro project with accredited sustainable certification specific to rating railway stations covering all project stages from design, through construction to operations. This has been achieved through GSAS’ unique Railways Scheme that is used for rating the sustainability and ecological impacts of new main station buildings, including spaces that serve various functions of a metro station.

To achieve the Platinum rating in operations phase, the Education City Station was assessed in six categories i.e. energy performance, indoor environment, waste management, facility management, water performance, and environmental policy and awareness. The facility’s evaluation included thermal imaging analysis of the building envelope, energy and water labelling, indoor environmental quality analysis, and techno-commercial analysis of its energy management opportunities. Additionally, the station’s indoor environmental quality and waste and facility management practices were assessed and found to be in line with GSAS standards. The audit findings were accompanied by a range of recommendations that can further enhance the facility’s environmental performance through energy and water management opportunities (EMOs).

GSAS is the MENA region’s first green building certification system that assesses and guides projects on how they reduce their environmental footprint during the design, construction and operation stages. Its Operations scope focuses on the impact of buildings once occupied, as their operational and maintenance practices have a direct impact on the natural environment, the economy, and people’s health. The GSAS Operations certification program aims to lessen a building’s environmental footprint while also improving the wellbeing of its occupants. 

With GSAS Operations certification process now complete for Education City Station, other metro stations will undergo desk reviews and audits to obtain the certification with similar ratings.