Etihad Rail ran three trains from the border with Saudi Arabia to Al Faya station in Abu Dhabi carrying more than 350 Emiratis and UAE residents who had been stranded abroad.
The train journeys on Tuesday brought them from Al Ghuwaifat border crossing back to the UAE after Iranian air strikes left airspace closed or at limited capacity.
Etihad Rail said further train trips to bring back citizens and residents were planned for Wednesday, with more operations to be conducted as required.
"This operation highlights the flexibility of the UAE’s national railway network and its strategic role in supporting mobility and serving the community under various circumstances by providing safe and reliable transport alternatives," said Mohammed Al Shehhi, chief projects officer at Etihad Rail.
"Additional journeys have been scheduled today (Wednesday) and operations will continue as required, in coordination with the relevant authorities, until air traffic resumes and flights return to normal."
Matar Al Nuaimi, director general of the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre Abu Dhabi, highlighted the significance of the transport missions.
“The operation of the passenger service prior to its official launch demonstrates a high degree of institutional flexibility, based on the effective redeployment of available capabilities to address societal priorities, without compromising long-term operational plans or the UAE’s logistical security," he said.
"The rail services, run in co-ordination with the ADCMC, ran as part of a response effort to “strengthen preparedness and enhance response efficiency”.
The move reflected the resilience and operational agility of the UAE’s national railway network, Etihad Rail wrote on X.
The trains carried the passengers despite the national rail network not yet officially open to the public, and after a trial run was executed successfully on Tuesday.
“The operation of passenger services between Al Ghuwaifat and Al Faya as part of the trial demonstrates the readiness and flexibility of the UAE’s national railway network, which is designed to ensure the continuity of vital services in all circumstances,” Mr Al Shehhi said.
“This initiative follows the directives of our wise leadership to strengthen the national transport ecosystem and enhance its strategic role in supporting society. We are proud to support the joint response efforts led by the relevant authorities, providing safe, reliable and well-organised transport solutions at a time when the continuity of the national transport ecosystem is crucial.”
Etihad Rail and other transport networks are a critical component of the country's comprehensive emergency response system, Mr Al Nuaimi said.
Al Ghuwaifat is one of the 11 stations in the nationwide rail network, which is on track to open this year. Al Faya is the main rail depot in Abu Dhabi and has been used for previous trial runs, as construction on stations across the Emirates nears completion.
When will services start and where will trains go?
A launch date and the first passenger route have yet to be announced, but Etihad Rail confirmed in May that services would start this year.
Four stations have been announced, one each in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah. Construction is progressing well, and stations such as Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and Sakamkam in Fujairah, near Al Hilal City development, are visible from nearby roads.
A station is expected near Mussaffah in Abu Dhabi, while another is planned for near University City in Sharjah.
Additional stations are expected, although Etihad Rail has declined to comment on further locations, while repeating its ambition to connect 11 cities across the UAE.
In October at the Global Rail Conference in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Rail announced a joint venture with Keolis International, the French operator of Dubai Metro, to manage passenger train operations.
Passenger numbers across the Etihad Rail network are expected to reach 36 million by 2030. Trains will travel at speeds of up to 200kph and carry up to 400 passengers, running on the same lines as freight services.
A journey of 57 minutes is forecast from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and 105 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah.
