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Just call us “FAQ Controllers”…
Learning facts about trains is never cool. In fact, until recently, the term “train spotter” was considered a mean schoolyard slur. But then Francis Bourgeois, Grand Duke of Train Fantasy, came along and, through the power and sheer message of TikTok, changed the public perception of train facts forever.
There’s also something enduringly romantic about the idea of ​​rail travel. After you book your ticket, drive through the magnificent panorama, while the carriage sways rhythmically and gently rocks towards the final destination. Maybe there was an “incident” and a mustache Belgian would have to use wild leaps of reasoning to eliminate potential culprits one by one. It’s a first-class way to travel, that’s what we call it, even if you’re taking a coach.
If you’re curious about *twiddles mustache* what the UAE’s own Etihad Rail project means for travel to the region, you’re in the right place. Here are the answers to the 10 most frequently asked questions about trains connecting the seven emirates of the UAE.
So is it for passengers or just cargo?
The Etihad Rail project has two elements – the rail network is designed to support freight and passenger services. There is a large industrial and commercial component that has actually started shipping granulated sulfur west of Abu Dhabi.
But there will also be a passenger transport system, a magnificent “sand-piercing ship” linking 11 cities in the UAE, with panoramic windows against a backdrop of unruly geography. And then…beyond. Enter GCC.
are we almost there?
yes and no. On February 23, 2023, in the company of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, the national railway network officially opened for freight trains. But the passenger business may take longer.
When can we sit on the boat?
When can passengers travel on Etihad Rail? We know you’re dying to hear the “tickets please,” but they haven’t expired on the platform yet. Announced in December 2021 at a special “Top 50 Projects” event at Expo 2020 in 2021, the only firm official timeline given is that the service is expected to “carry 36.5 million passengers by 2030”. And this progress is “on track” because of this goal. We do, however, get a glimpse of what the train will look like. On UAE National Day in 2022, the prototype was unveiled, and since then there have been several high-profile visits to the functional model, including some royal visitors.
How long does it take to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi (and vice versa)?
when what is on Speak to Ahmed Al Musawa, Executive Director of Etihad Rail Passenger Services, about travel times between the UAE, and here’s what he had to say
Ahmed Musawa: The train passenger service will enable users to plan their journeys between emirates and cities more efficiently, reducing travel time significantly:
- Up to 50 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Dubai
- 100 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah
- It takes 50 minutes to travel from Dubai to Fujairah.
- 70 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Ruwais
Which cities will it connect to?
Al Musawa also stated that the 1,200 km network will extend from Al Sila to Fujairah, serving 11 cities, towns and communities around the network, including: Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Fujairah, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Abu Dhabi.
Is it just the UAE?
no sir. not at all. In February 2023, Oman Railways and Etihad Railways reached an agreement, in cooperation with Mubadala, to commit to building a 303-kilometer railway linking the two GCC countries by rail, starting from Sohar in Oman Direct access to Abu Dhabi city (within 100 minutes) and beyond.
There has also been talk of potentially linking UAE rail services with Saudi Arabia. Keep an eye out for more updates on this.
How fast is it going?
According to reports, the train has a top speed of more than 200 kilometers per hour. That’s “late for a date” Nissan Patrol speed.
How environmentally friendly is it?
There is a section of track between shah and Habshan and between the port of Ruwais in the Al Dhafra area of ​​Abu Dhabi that is already used for transporting sulfur. Glamorous? Not really. Scented by the aroma of an expired egg-cress sandwich? Almost certain. But transporting this vital industrial resource by rail instead of road has already saved 2 million truck trips, which equates to a net reduction in carbon emissions of about 70% to 80%.
And what about desert wildlife?
Etihad Rail has entered into a key partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the Abu Dhabi Environment Authority (EAD) to help ensure wildlife and heritage damage during track construction minimized.
For example, the Al Maha forest area is home to many important species in the UAE, including the Arabian oryx, oryx and great bustard. Located in Abu Dhabi, the forest stretches over 5.5 kilometers along the B-package route and promises to provide some incredible animal-spotting opportunities along the way.
Etihad Rail avoids running through farms; it uses noise control technology to limit volume and promises to use horns only in emergencies; there is a revegetation program; there are special fences on both sides of the track, and 10 camel underpasses, 22 Gazelle underpasses and 78 reptile underpasses; the locomotive also meets Tier 3 (EPA) engine emissions standards, which is a good thing for everyone.
What are the main economic benefits
You hear a lot of talk about numbers in large projects. Of course, they are all predictions, but they are obtained through first principles science. Some of the most exciting statistics from the Etihad train station are that it is expected to create 9,000 jobs by 2030; it will create “economic opportunities” worth around AED 200 billion; and it will reduce carbon emissions estimates AED 21 billion in revenue with projected savings of AED 8 billion in road maintenance costs; and then of course additional tourism business worth conservatively estimated AED 23 billion over the next 50 years; public spending benefits to the UAE economy of 23 billion dirhams.
Image: Etihad Rail
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