(Menarfin– Age of Khaleej) Posted: Thursday, January 12, 2023 4:27 pm
Last Updated: Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:42pm
Etihad Rail is now running through Abu Dhabi’s Al Maha Forest – and it promises to provide passengers with breathtaking scenery when it finally starts operating.
In a video shared on Twitter, Etihad Rail shows how the tracks cut through the forest, and what it looks like at dusk.
According to National Rail, the forest is a beautiful destination that gives passengers the chance to observe rare desert dwellers.
Etihad Rail added in a tweet that careful steps were being taken to protect natural habitats and wildlife by building bridges, canals and animal crossings. These are expected to strengthen the UAE’s integrated and sustainable transport ecosystem.
2022 is a big year for Etihad Rail. From January to December, the railway crossed several milestones – including that the 1,200-kilometre network stretching from the Saudi Arabian border to the Omani border is 75% complete.
It also saw Dubai and Abu Dhabi being connected by rail for the first time, with Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Taeb bin Al Maktoum, Chairman. The moment was witnessed by Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Etihad Rail. Together they installed the final piece on the rails.
In December last year, the first passenger train prototype was unveiled at National Day celebrations.
Once completed, passengers can travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai within 50 minutes. The trains will have a top speed of 200km/h and are expected to reduce commuting times by up to 40%.
A senior Etihad Rail official had earlier said that the rail would be integrated with all modes of transport so that passengers would have a ‘door-to-door’ service to ensure they reach their final destination in the most comfortable way from the station land.
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