Established in 2009, the Etihad Rail is a major project of the UAE government aiming to transform the country’s logistic sector. Built with high international standards, Etihad Rail will work towards the economic growth and social stability of the country. Let us take you through the project in detail.
Etihad Rail – Background
Etihad Rail is UAE’s national rail network that came into existence in 2009 for the betterment of the country’s railway infrastructure.
The first phase of the rail network became totally operational in 2016, covering a track stretching between Shah and Habshan to the port of Ruwais in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi. The operator of this project, Etihad Rail DB delivered stage one on time.
Phase one of the grand engineering rail project ferried almost over 22,000 tonnes of granulated Sulphur every day from its sources at Shah and Habshan to its processing and export point at Ruwais. Over 20 million tonnes of Sulphur have been carried via the rail network to date.
What’s important to note here is that the rail journeys were successful in removing almost two million truck trips from the road. This means that Etihad Rail played a major role in the net carbon reduction of the country to a great extent.
An agreement was signed between the UAE Ministry of Finance and the Abu Dhabi Department of Finance to finance Stage Two of the Etihad Rail project.
Etihad Rail – Future Plans
When completed, the railway network will measure 1200 km long. Etihad Rail is going to connect the seven emirates together for safe and sustainable industrial growth through a rail-based transport system. The Etihad Rail project consisting of passenger and freight transport envisions redefining UAE’s transport and logistic sector.
Furthermore, the project is expected to connect with the neighboring GCC countries.
Laying of Etihad Rail’s stage two commenced at the beginning of 2021 from the railhead in Ruwais, stretching westwards towards the borders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. After completion, the national railway project will be capable of ferrying over fifty million tonnes of goods annually.
Currently, seven million tonnes of goods are transported on stage one per year, but the volume will increase to over fifty million tonnes per year on the full network when stage two is complete.
More than 605 kilometres of the additional track is going to be laid down in stage two. The track will start from Ghuweifat (on the border with Saudi Arabia) to Fujairah (on the UAE’s east coast).
This will be followed by future route additions connecting with neighbouring GCC countries.
All routes of Etihad Rail are going to link with sources of raw materials, ports, industrial areas, and major population centres.
Route of Etihad Rail
Etihad Rail connects UAE with Saudi Arabia via its border Ghweifat in the west and connects Oman through Al Ain in the east. The railway line covers the Emirate connecting Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Dubai. It then runs through the northern emirates and Fujairah.
Stage two extends from the Saudi Arabia border at Ghuweifat and connects UAE’s Emirates through Abu Dhabi, Khalifa Port, Kizad, Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah, Jebel Ali Port, Sharjah, and Fujairah on the east coast of UAE.
Furthermore, stage three is expected to complete by 2024 and it will link the northern Emirates.
What Can Be Transported on the Etihad Rail
An increase of DH 3.5 billion gross domestic product is expected through the Etihad National railway system by 2030. After completion, the Etihad Rail project will cater not just to freight but also to passengers. As mentioned above, the railway network is also going to form part of the GCC Railway Network that links the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and links with Oman via Al Ain in the east.
Connecting the trade centres of the country, the railway system will become a catalyst for economic progression.
In the future, wagons running along the railway tracks will ship almost everything starting from consumer goods to perishable beverages and food items.
Typical products expected to be transported on the Etihad Rail include sugar, hay, polymers, and ceramics, metals, waste and shipping containers. What kind of wagon is used will depend on the kind of cargo being freighted.
Different kinds of wagons include flat-bed wagons, intermodal steel containers, temperature-controlled carriages and rail gondolas with low-side walls for loose bulk materials.
When Will the Etihad Rail Open to Passengers
In the future, the Etihad railway network is expected to serve millions of passengers. While the focus on freight opportunities as of now, later on, passenger transport is also going to become an essential part of the project.
Etihad Rail is closely working with the Federal Transport Authority and transport authorities to develop existing hubs and networks to improve passenger connections.
Later on, the popular hubs across the UAE will also be linked to the neighbouring GCC countries.
With the advent of passenger travel via Etihad Rail, travelling across the region will become safer, more reliable, more efficient, comfortable and environmentally friendly. The project is expected to be ready by 2024.
That is all about Etihad Rail. Another public transportation project to look forward to is the hyperloop project in Dubai.
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