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The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Transport Agency (NTA) to regulate the issuance of safety permits for the construction and operation of the first phase of Etihad Rail.
Signed by HE Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA, and HE Eng. Ibrahim Abdulla Al Wahabi, director general of the NTA, the MoU states that both parties will define the requirements and plans for the issuance of safety permits to Etihad Rail Company for the operation of trains on the federal rail network. Additionally, both transport authorities will also assess the documents submitted by Etihad Rail Company and Etihad Rail DB Company, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the railways.
“The RTA has a good experience in this field gathered during the construction of the Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram projects, besides having exposure to the best international expertise & practices in the rail industry,” said Al Tayer.
A joint team of officials from the RTA, NTA and Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi will work together towards issuing the required safety permits for Phase I of Etihad Rail, stretching from Shah and Habshan up to Al Ruwais.
Al Wahabi said the signing of this MoU enhanced the cooperation efforts between both rail authorities, which would benefit the country’s rail network.
“The signing of this MoU culminates the close cooperation between the two authorities towards ensuring the safety of the rail system in the UAE. This MoU sets out the institutional framework for solving complex issues relating to the issuance of safety permits for Etihad Rail Company. Experts will be guided by this MoU in examining the documents of safety files submitted by Etihad Rail Company.”
The MoU was signed in the presence of acting-CEO of Etihad Rail, Faris Al Mazroui, besides other top officials and directors from the RTA and NTA.
Additional articles included in the MoU govern the activities that will be undertaken in the post-safety permit issuance stages, such as verifying appropriate discharge of safety obligations, monitoring the safety performance, carrying out annual safety regulation audits and investigating accidents, if any.