Etihad Rail has confirmed which passenger journeys will launch first when the service starts running
It’s not long until the UAE’s first intercity passenger train launches this year, in what will be a gamechanger for travelling around the Emirates.
The latest update coming from Etihad Rail HQ is the first passenger journeys to launch when the service becomes available.
Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah will be the lucky first Emirates to have trains running, as confirmed to The National.
Passengers can expect frequency journeys between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which will take around 60 minutes, while Abu Dhabi to Fujairah will take around 90 minutes.
A timetable has not yet been released, but the spokesperson also added that further routes will become available over the course of 2026.
The announcement follows the recent news of where the stations will be located. In Abu Dhabi, passengers will be able to board the train at Mohamed bin Zayed City, a 20 minute drive from the city.
Other stations that have also been announced are Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, University City in Sharjah and the Al Hilal area in Fujairah.
But more stations all around the Abu Dhabi Emirate will also open: Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed, Mezairaa and Al Faya. Al Dhaid in Sharjah has also been added to the list.
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What can passengers expect when Etihad Rail launches?
Etihad Rail will be connecting the whole of the UAE, with a total of 11 cities and areas across the country. There are also plans to eventually connect the entire Gulf region, with a state-of-the-art railway system.
Each train will have capacity for 400 passengers, with modern amenities like wi-fi and comfortable seating.
Mohammed Al Shehii, chief projects officer at Etihad Rail, said (via The National): “Each train can accommodate up to 400 passengers and will be operated using the latest systems to ensure reliability and security. Our services will be seamlessly integrated into the wider transport network, with stations connected to other modes of transport.”
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