It would be a revolution in a country where planes and big saloons are king and queen: a system of high-speed trains linking all the cities of the United Arab Emirates. As the Abu Dhabi the conference Middle East Rail 2022Shadi Malak, CEO ofEtihad Railthe developer and operator of the national rail network in the United Arab Emirates, has revealed the progress that has been made in connecting the country by rail. And finally enabling travellers to switch from planes or cars to a more environmentally-friendly mode of transport.environment.
Rail, the future of the Emirates
" We are in a privileged position, because we can change the face of logistics and mobility in this country, helping to connect industries, businesses and people, supporting tourism, while at the same time making a difference to the environment. is the cornerstone of the U.A.E.'s global government initiatives." he said in his opening speech at Middle East Rail 2022.
On Etihad Rail's services, Shadi Malak explained its strategy: " We want to use a customer-centric approach. By introducing a cheaper, faster, more reliable and sustainable service, rail is going to change public perception on the way we transport our goods and ourselves. This gives rail the opportunity to be at the forefront of logistics and mobility solutions in the UAE." .
The network will extend 1,200 km from the Saudi Arabian border to the Omani border.. The first section has already been completed. Since 2016, trains have been running between Shah in the centre of the country and Ruwais in the west. Work is now concentrating on the line's core traffic: the Abu Dhabi/Dubai section.. This link between the two emirates extends over 256 kilometres, including 29 bridges, 60 level crossings and 137 drainage channels. The rail link became operational in March.
36 million passengers expected every year
The launch date of the passenger service and its exact route are not known.. Shadi Malak did, however, provide a few details during the conference: " 28 months after the start of construction, we have completed more than 75 % of our network" he said. This would make it possible to anticipate a opening towards 2024 at the latest, based on figures from Etihad Rail's CEO.
The line is expected to carry more than 36 million people a year by 2030. Passenger trains will run at speeds of up to 200 km/h and will link 11 towns and regions. Each train will be able to carry approximately 400 people. On Abu Dhabi-Dubai, the journey time would be 50 minutes and 100 minutes between Abu Dhabi and the Emirate of Fujairah. 
With a rail network linking the main centres of trade, industry and population, the train is set to become the Emirates' most popular means of internal transport. And contribute to a significant reduction in the country's fuel and CO2 emissions.
Etihad Rail's CEO describes this new revolution as follows. " We are in a position to shape the industry, redefine business models and human behaviour. I truly believe that the future of transport is in our hands, and at Etihad Rail we are committed to furthering the vision of our leaders and playing an integral role in transforming the UAE for future generations.. "
