Passenger train line will change people’s lives in UAE, Etihad Rail says
The passenger train line being built in the UAE could change how people live, work and study, a senior figure from Etihad Rail has said.
The route between Abu Dhabi and Dubai was the subject of much attention on the first day of the Middle East Rail conference at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre yesterday.
The passenger trains, capable of travelling at up to 200 kilometres an hour, will reduce the travel time between the cities and ease the amount of traffic on the roads, analysts said.
“This project can play a big part in deciding where we work, live and study,” Ahmed Al Hashemi, executive director of passenger services at Etihad Rail, told The National.
“There are many benefits. Not least it will mean fewer people
travel by car, which is better for the environment, and it will reduce the number of accidents as travelling by train is much safer.”
No details were provided on
when passenger line services would begin.
The link between Abu Dhabi and Dubai stretches for more than 250km and includes 29 bridges, 60 crossings and 137 drainage channels. The section linking the cities is part of Etihad Rail’s wider network, which runs across 1,200 kilometres from the border of Saudi Arabia to Oman.
It is expected to carry more than 36 million people each year by 2030 between 11 cities in the seven emirates.
The travel time between Abu Dhabi and Dubai is expected to be about 50 minutes, while a journey from the capital to Fujairah is likely to take twice as long.
“Even if you’re not planning on travelling any way other than by car, you will still enjoy the roads having less traffic on them,” Mr Al Hashemi said.
“With a train, you feel much safer, because it’s less affected by things like weather.”
Part of the Etihad Rail network is operational, with freight trains running from gasfields at Shah and Habshan to Ruwais since 2016. The service carries 22,000 tonnes of granulated sulphur each day.
Another industry figure believes the network will go a long way to enabling the UAE to meet its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
“If you’re arriving at the airport, you will soon be able to hop on a train rather than having to go and rent a car to get to where you want,” said Tamer Salama, managing director in the GCC of French rail equipment maker Alstom.
“It is much more cost-effective for residents who commute as well, as they will be saving money they would otherwise spend on the likes of fuel and Salik gate fees.”
A regular passenger service between the emirates, and eventually to countries across the region, would be an attractive proposition for business people, said Leon Soulier, the chief executive of Siemens Mobility in the Middle East and Africa.
“People will be able to work remotely on a train, whereas that time would have been lost if they were having to drive themselves,” he said.
However, he said there were still some challenges ahead for the service.
“In other countries, commuters don’t mind walking to a train station because the weather isn’t so hot,” Mr Soulier said.
“That’s not the case here. We have to make sure there’s the infrastructure for people to get from their front door to the station as easily as possible.
“There needs to be a proper feeder network in place, with the likes of buses making regular trips to the stations.”