[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Passengers on the UAE’s national railway network will be offered “door-to-door” service to ensure they arrive at their final destination from the station in the utmost comfort, according to a top Etihad Rail official.
Etihad Rail’s Executive Director of Passenger Sector, Ahmed Al Musawa Al Hashemi, stated that the railways will be integrated with all modes of transportation and shared mobility solutions. There will be public transportation to a passenger’s final destination, whether it is their home, workplace, or a tourist attraction.
“As a passenger I want a service that will take me door-to-door and not just station-to-station. We are working with local authorities in every emirate to ensure a first and last mile solution to take people from the railway station to their final destination. This includes solutions of shared mobility, light trains like trams, buses, car rentals, park-and-ride facilities at the stations. To achieve this, we are looking at a high level of integration between railways and all modes of transport,” Al Hashemi told Khaleej Times.
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The passenger services aim to provide commuters with a seamless, integrated, and time-saving experience from the time they book their trip until they arrive at their final destination.
From Al Sila to Fujairah, the passenger train will connect 11 cities and regions in the UAE, including Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, and Abu Dhabi.
Al Hashemi stated that the railway network will continue to expand.
“We are constantly studying and safeguarding potential expansion routes to ensure future readiness in terms of the required infrastructure for developing these routes,” Al Hashemi said.
The same tracks can be used for freight and passengers, and the majority of the network will be double-tracked. It will cover densely populated and popular areas across the UAE, connecting urban and rural areas and increasing the network’s visibility among community members.
Each train will have a seating capacity of more than 400 passengers and will be capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h. Passengers can travel in 50 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and in 100 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. The number of passengers is expected to exceed 36.5 million per year by 2030.
Etihad Rail recently signed a Dh1.2 billion contract with the Spanish firm CAF to design, manufacture, supply, and maintain passenger trains for the national railway network. Etihad Rail has signed a financing agreement with First Abu Dhabi Bank for passenger transportation services.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
