Etihad Rail network remains on track

Stage one of the project is complete and operational, while stage two, linking the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is progressing

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  Etihad Rail's inspection train travels from Saih Shuaib to Al Maha Forest in Abu Dhabi, as officials monitor progress in the second stage of the national railway project. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

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  The inspection train is designated for the supervision and inspection of construction works.

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  Railroad track workers along the Saih Shuaib line.

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  From Saih Shuaib, tracks are being laid north toward Dubai and south toward Abu Dhabi, creating a rail link for the first time between the two emirates.

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  Stage one of Etihad Rail, a 264-kilometre line, has been fully operational since January 2016.

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  Two trains transport up to 22,000 tonnes of granulated sulphur each day from gas fields in Shah and Habshan to an export point in Ruwais.

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  The second stage of the network will extend from Ghuwaifat on the border with Saudi Arabia and connect the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah on the east coast.

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  The fleet will expand from seven to 45 locomotives, transporting 60 million tonnes of cargo a year.

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  In March, Etihad Rail announced it had completed 34 per cent of the network.

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  After the completion of stage two and other future expansion works, the rail network will stretch about 1,200km across the country.

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  The rail service will carry both passengers and freight.

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  Omar Al Sebeyi, acting executive director of the commercial sector at Etihad Rail said everyone was working hard to achieve their deadlines.

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  Railroad cars about to be loaded with metal rails, rocks and other track-building materials for transporting down the line.

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  A locomotive at the railroad yard.

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  Omar Al Sebeyi, acting executive director of the commercial sector at Etihad Rail points out changes to the track.

Construction of the UAE’s rail network remains on track.

Stage one of Etihad Rail is already complete and operating along a 264-kilometre route from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais, transporting sulphur.

Stage two links the UAE and Saudi Arabia from Fujairah Port to Ghuweifat, through Mussafah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port.

The complete network will measure about 1,200km.

In late September, Etihad Rail said important construction work for the second stage of the nationwide scheme had been finished two months ahead of schedule.

The company this week revealed the UAE’s first marine rail bridge was 50 per cent complete.

The bridge, which is more than one kilometre long, will connect Khalifa Port with the UAE National Rail Network and play an important role in transporting goods across the region, reducing freight and trade costs.

Omar Al Sebeyi, acting executive director of the commercial sector at Etihad Rail, said the group's focus remains on freight.

“Right now in stage two, we are looking into the main backbone, which is the freight.,” he said, speaking at an event to announce the relocation of the Middle East Rail show from Dubai to Abu Dhabi in May 2022.

Once fully operational, the fleet of trains and wagons running on the Etihad Rail network will replace 5,600 daily trips by lorries on the road.

A fully loaded train emits up to 80 per cent less carbon dioxide than lorries transporting the same tonnage.

Based on traffic volume forecasts, the Etihad Rail network will reduce greenhouse gases by more than 2.2 million tonnes annually, the equivalent of taking up to 375,000 vehicles off the roads.

Wagons running on the Etihad Rail tracks will ship anything from consumer goods to perishable food and beverages.

Some of the typical products expected to move across the Emirates include hay, ceramics, polymers, sugar, metal, waste and shipping containers.

Etihad Rail is one of the main sponsors of the Middle East Rail 2022 conference, which will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on May 17 and 18.