ETIHAD RAIL

Etihad Rail is a nationwide railway network with a long-term future of providing service to the country. The UAE government is constantly launching new and exciting initiatives to contribute to the emirates’ continued growth and glory. 

Etihad Rail is the United Arab Emirates national railway network. It was established in June 2009 under Federal Law No. 2 to manage the development, construction and operation of the United Arab Emirates’ national freight and passenger railway network.

Connecting the United Arab Emirates to the Gulf Cooperation Council. The train that will link all seven emirates to Saudi Arabia. 

In 2009, the first segment of the formation was put into motion. It showed that the emirate was devoid of 80 percent of carbon dioxide, the most prevalent pollutant in the modern period. Moreover, the project’s first phase has been operating since 2016 and has already transported 30 billion granular sulphurs. Yet, there have been zero reported injuries, and all deadlines have been reached with flying colours. The alternate option has a single train transporting 1.9 million vehicles.

Centralization occurs in the second stage, which might link important industrial and commerce ports. The proposed Etihad Rail network follows the coastlines in the east. Nearly 600+ kilometres of the additional track will be added during Phase 2 of the project, connecting Ghuwaifat and Fujairah. A total of 39 locomotives are scheduled for import by the UAE; they will be used to haul 100-wagon trains. As a result of its massive size and power, it will be able to displace 5,500+ vehicles. The railway’s tracking system is functioning very well in Phase I. The government has previously planned to extend the coverage alongside Phase II to promote new trade marketplaces. The work is still in progress, but the added features make this project much more worthwhile.

You can also refer: https://www.etihadrail.ae/

Stations

By 2030, 35+ million individuals will have used the passenger train service.  In any case, trial runs connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai have resumed. You may expect this path to follow near the busy Emirates Road. 

The Dubai Expo and Al Maktoum International Airport are the landmarks the train will go by. It takes roughly 40-50 minutes to go to Dubai from the nation’s capital. Getting to Abu Dhabi from Fujairah would take around 100 minutes. 

The goal is to have a single ticketing and trip-planning system that works for all modes of public transportation, including Etihad Rail, buses, and the metro. When finished, rail travel throughout the country will be possible, and in the future, we may even see trains crossing international boundaries.

 The first passenger rail station, serving 11 different areas, will be in Sakamkam, Fujairah. Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah are now directly connected to the train network after a 145-kilometer segment was recently finished. Officials have said they are working on connecting Fujairah and the Etihad Rail.

Facilities & Benefits

Travellers on Etihad Rail will enjoy a wide range of services, including onboard entertainment, spacious seats, and strict adherence to safety protocols.

There will be a state-of-the-art cooling system, multimedia systems, charging ports, food, drink, plenty of legroom, and more. It is hoped that this project will increase the relationship between the two emirates & shorten travel times between them.

The Etihad rail network will connect Abu Dhabi with the Northern Emirates, making it easier for people in the North to go to work, school, and other essential places.

Careers

Etihad rail Jobs. This project is projected to generate thousands of new employment in the rail industry in its building and operating phases.

In addition to bolstering the UAE economy, the Etihad Rail Sharjah project would facilitate the flow of products and people between the several emirates. Etihad Rail Sharjah is progressing toward a bright future because of its efforts to diversify its business and invest in forefront infrastructure and technology.

The time and money spent transporting products inside the UAE will be reduced, and the system’s efficiency will be enhanced. New employment will be created in the railway’s construction and maintenance.

Challenges

One of the most ambitious and costly infrastructure projects in the United Arab Emirates is the Etihad rail Sharjah project. This endeavour is crucial to the UAE’s ambitions to increase connectivity and stimulate economic development.

While the project has had its successes, it has also encountered some obstacles that have led to delays and budget overruns. The lack of available funding has been the biggest obstacle for the Etihad rail Sharjah project.

Etihad rail is now operating thanks to various financing and commitments provided by the UAE government. The building process is another obstacle for the Etihad rail Sharjah project. The weather, lack of available labour, and issues with material supply have all slowed the project’s progression.

The delays have added an estimated AED 10 billion to the project’s total cost. Multiple political issues have plagued the Etihad rail Sharjah project as well. Some nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and Oman, have voiced their opposition to the initiative.

These nations have demanded that the project be reviewed because of their worries about its potential environmental impacts. The completion of this project will provide an essential connection between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It is hoped that completing this project will increase the UAE’s GDP and enhance regional communication.

Link up with GCC Rail network

The Gulf Railway, also known as the GCC Railway, is a proposed railway system to connect all six Gulf Cooperation Council member states in Eastern Arabia. The rail network will have a total length of 2,177 km. The project is estimated to cost US$250 billion.

The Federal Transport Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that the UAE Railways Company would be the national railway operator. Etihad Rail and the GCC Rail Secretariat have inked an agreement to establish rail connections across the GCC. GCC Rail Secretariat members met in Bahrain to sign the agreement. And it’s meant to improve the UAE’s and other GCC nations’ ability to work together on rail initiatives.