ETIHAD Rail successfully launched the first mainline passenger service in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 250-kilometer route between Abu Dhabi and Al Dhanna on January 25.
The trains are used by employees of the national oil company Adnoc as part of a strategic agreement signed by Adnoc and Etihad Rail in December.
“The development of the passenger rail service between Abu Dhabi and Al Dhanna aims to connect the major centers of trade, industry, manufacturing, logistics and population of the UAE,” says Dr. Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE and Managing Director and CEO of Adnoc Group, who was among the first passengers.
“The Etihad Rail project is more than just a rail network, it will be a vital artery for economic growth and infrastructure development, contributing to decarbonization, for the benefit of the UAE and its people.”
Freight transportation began on the UAE’s $14 billion network in February 2013. The 1,200-km network stretches from Guweyfat on the border with Saudi Arabia in the east to Fujairah in the west, connecting four major ports and seven logistics zones.
The start date of public passenger transportation, which is expected to connect 11 cities across the UAE, has not yet been confirmed. Etihad Rail provides a 50-minute travel time between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and 1 hour. 40 min. from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah.
In June 2022, the company ordered a fleet of 200 km/h diesel trains from CAF. The trains can accommodate up to 400 passengers and will be equipped with Wi-Fi and air conditioning.
It also announced the launch of luxury trains in partnership between Etihad Rail and Italian tour operator Arsenale. Trains of 15 cars will run from Fujairah to the Liwa Desert in Abu Dhabi. The launch date has not yet been confirmed.
