Etihad Rail awards contracts for Stage Two of national railway network
$435mn of contracts awarded during board meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Etihad Rail has approved the award of the systems and integration contracts for Stage Two of the UAE’s national railway network. The contracts, which are worth $435m, were awarded during a Board meeting chaired by His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Etihad Rail.
His Highness (HH) and the Japanese Ambassador to the UAE, Akihiko Nakajima, attended the contract signing to award the systems and integration works to Hitachi Rail STS. The contract was signed by Shadi Malak, Etihad Rail CEO and Christian Andy, CEO of Hitachi Rail STS, Europe, Middle East and Africa, the statement said.
“We are working with a strong will and determination to achieve a secure, modern and sustainable national railway network, and the awarding of the systems and integration contract is an important step in accomplishing this national strategic project, which is the future of a new transport sector in the country, and upgrades the transport and shipping sector in the UAE by linking ports to economic, industrial and residential areas,” said HH Sheikh Theyab.
He added, “The national railway network will operate according to the latest technologies adopted for operating systems and to the highest international standards, to connect the emirates of the UAE. It contributes to economic and social development by linking strategic ports, manufacturing and production points and population centers, enhancing the transport sector in the country and leading to a qualitative shift in the movement of freight and logistics sector.”
Etihad Rail says the agreement reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the highest levels of efficiency and safety in line with international standards. The trains will be equipped with the latest European signaling system inside the locomotives (ETCS Level 2), which will ensure that trains can easily move between GCC countries without stopping at the borders, the statement said.
Christian Andi, Hitachi Rail STS Business Unit president EMEA remarked, “We are proud and honored to be entrusted by Etihad Rail for this cutting-edge railway project and to contribute to the development of UAE fully diversified and sustainable economy.”
Hitachi Rail STS will be responsible for the design and build of railway systems related to its subsystems, in coordination with other Stage Two works and contracts, as well as managing uptime and operation tests.
