Etihad Rail signs three MoUs with European companies to exchange knowledge and expertise in the rail sector

Etihad Rail has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Spanish national rail operator Renfe; High Speed ​​1, the UK’s first high-speed railway; and UK rail freight company GB Railfreight. The MoU is based on the exchange of knowledge, expertise and best practices in freight and passenger rail services and operations. This is part of Etihad Rail’s efforts to develop rail services as part of the UAE’s national railway programme.

The MoU was signed on the second day of the Middle East Railway in 2022, an event hosted by Etihad Rail and sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Mansur bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs of the UAE, and In partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The two-day event took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

The MoU was signed by the Honourable Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, Juan Matías Archilla, Senior Manager of Renfe International Operations, Dyan Crowther, CEO of High Speed ​​1, and John Smith, CEO of GB Railfreight, in the presence of officials from both parties.

Spanish national rail operator Renfe is a leader in passenger and freight rail transport, operating the largest high-speed rail network in Europe and the second largest in the world. It operates around 5,000 trains a day and transports more than 500 million passengers a year. High Speed ​​1 is a British company operating high-speed passenger trains in the UK, with a concession to own, operate and maintain the UK’s only high-speed railway. In addition, GB Railfreight is the third largest rail freight company in the UK and one of the fastest growing companies in the rail industry, carrying 22% of rail freight in the UK.

The Honourable Shadi Malak, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail, said: “Etihad Rail is committed to achieving the goals of the National Rail Plan and to completing the Etihad Rail project on time. We have been committed to signing agreements and building partnerships. relationship to improve efficiency and efficiency. As part of Etihad Rail’s efforts to strengthen collaboration and exchange expertise with some of the global rail network leaders to deliver the best world-class service.”

The MoU aims to exchange knowledge, expertise and best practices in the railway sector, railway maintenance and management technology development such as planning, design, development and commissioning.

Etihad Rail will host 16^th The China Eastern Railway Edition, which was held for the first time in Abu Dhabi. The Middle East Railway is the largest transportation event in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, bringing together leaders, visionary senior executives, key decision makers and government representatives across the transportation industry to discuss the most pressing topics in the global railway and transportation sector , and highlight the latest innovations in the industry.

The event brought together more than 600 VIPs, government officials, transport and infrastructure industry experts from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as 6,000 attendees, more than 200 speakers and more than 250 exhibitors.