Railway network transports 60 million tonnes of goods annually and expects more than 36.5 million passengers per year by 2030.
The UAE moved a step closer to its vision of providing an efficient and sustainable transport network connecting all seven emirates with the launch of the UAE National Railway Network.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Thursday the launch of the National Railway Network, and posted photos on Twitter showing him boarding the passenger train at the main centre for control and maintenance in Al Fayah region, Abu Dhabi.
Developed and operated by Etihad Rail, the National Railway Network will have an economic impact valued at AED 200 billion until 2050, Sheikh Mohammed said in a Twitter post. He added that 180 federal and local authorities worked a total of 133 million working hours to deliver the project, led by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Etihad Rail.
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Cargo train operations across all the emirates were also launched during the event.
Sheikh Mohammed said: “The UAE today successfully launched the national railway network. It connects four major ports in the country and seven logistical areas, and transports 60 million tonnes of goods annually. Our train network enhances our economy.”
The railway network covers 900 kilometres across the UAE, according to Sheikh Theyab. He added that the freight network has a fleet of 38 locomotives and more than 1,000 wagons capable of transporting all types of goods.
Abu Dhabi unveiled the first prototype of Etihad Rail’s passenger train last year during the UAE capital’s National Day celebrations. The passenger rail service will connect 11 cities in the UAE, cutting travel time by up to 40 per cent. Travel time from Abu Dhabi to Dubai will be 50 minutes, and one hour and 40 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, with a top speed of 200km/h.
Etihad Rail expects the number of passengers to reach more than 36.5 million annually by 2030.
The main line of the UAE National Rail Network extends from Ghuweifat on the border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Fujairah, serving as a vital link in the global supply network. The first phase of the network has been fully operational since January 2016, while the second phase started in early 2020.
The national railway network is expected to help the UAE save up to AED 8 billion in road maintenance costs. It will also have a huge impact on tourism, generating AED 23 billion for the industry.
The project is also a massive contributor to achieving the UAE Net Zero goals by 2050, reducing carbon emissions in the road transport sector by 21 percent, and reducing road transportation emissions per capita by 40 percent by 2050.
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