Excavation of GCC’S longest rail tunnel complete

ABU DHABI: The developer and operator of the UAE national railway network, the Etihad Rail, announced that it has completed the digging works for the longest tunnel on the Etihad Rail track in the Arabian Gulf region, with a length of 1. 8 km, as part of the works of Package “D” of the second phase, which is making its way through the Hajar Mountains.

THE ROUTES: Towards the Emirate of Fujairah, which extends 145 km between Dubai and Sharjah, through the Emirate of Fujairah, to Ras Al Khaimah, which includes the construction of 9 tunnels across the mountains with a total of 6.9 km, 54 bridges and 20 animal crossings.

This achievement comes as an important stage in the project during 2021, considering that the network path passes in one of the most difficult geographical areas within the network construction work, which contributes to enhancing the progress of the work within the approved schedule.

The tunnel excavation operations were carried out in accordance with the highest international safety and security standards to ensure that the operation was completed safely, given the mountainous terrain surrounding the tunnel site.

The working hours to complete the excavation work amounted to 300,000 hours, and more than half a million tons of stones were removed during the excavation works.

RAPID PROGRESS: It is worth noting that the progress of the work of the UAE national railway network project is progressing according to the time plans, as work has recently begun to lay railway tracks in the Seih Shuaib area, which is the starting point for the route towards Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as part of the second phase of the project, which extends from Al-ghuwaifat on the borders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to the Emirate of Fujairah on the eastern coast, and construction operations at the beginning of this year witnessed the start of the extension of railway tracks in the Al Dhafra region towards the borders of Saudi Arabia.

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’S National Rail Network, have collaborated in implementing sustained environmental stewardship during the planning and construction of the Etihad Rail Project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UAE. The first phase of the project is already operational, while the second phase will extend across the UAE from its border with Saudi Arabia into Abu Dhabi and further Dubai and Sharjah into Fujairah on the east coast.