Etihad Rail showcases future plans at Middle East Rail
UAE’s national railway operator reveals plans for 1,200km network
Etihad Rail, showcased its planned network and future passenger operations through an Etihad Rail Virtual Reality experience in the recently concluded Middle East Rail exhibition in Dubai.
Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, chairman of Etihad Rail, and Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, CEO, revealed that the UAE government’s plans for Etihad Rail is a 1,200km future network of excellent transport infrastructure, strengthening the UAE’s position as a logistics hub and facilitating connectivity between trading partners in the region and beyond through integration with the key ports of the Gulf and Arabian seas.
The UAE’s national railway operator also highlighted its existing operations and its recent achievement of transporting 10 million tonnes of sulphur from inland sources to the Ruwais port while revealing more details about its plans towards building the region’s first rail network.
The two officials hosted a series of discussions with international rail delegates across the event, including Paul Maynard, the UK’s rail minister; Philip Parham, the British Ambassador to the UAE; and Dr Rumaih Al Rumaih, president of Saudi Railways Organisation and the kingdom’s Public Transport Authority.
“Middle East Rail presents a great opportunity for Etihad Rail to showcase this important mega project, and its progress, across the region. We are particularly delighted with the successes we have achieved with Stage 1 operations over the past 18 months, reaching a historic milestone of over 10 million tonnes of sulphur transported and establishing the UAE as the largest exporter of sulphur in the world. We now look forward to prosperous years ahead as our rail network continues to grow, and this event is a celebration of this exciting vision,” said Al Marar.
Al Mazrouei added: “As the UAE’s national rail network, we are driven to play a critical part in making the region’s expansive rail network a reality. Within this mission, Middle East Rail forms a crucial platform for the leading players of the global rail industry to discuss and collaborate in upcoming projects.”
