UAE government announces launch of new railway program

The UAE government has partnered with Etihad Rail to announce the launch of the UAE Railways Program, the largest integrated system for freight and passenger transportation across the country.

This is reported by the railway magazine Railway Supply with reference to the Global Railway Review.

The program represents a comprehensive strategy for the UAE rail sector over the coming decades, as it includes a national network of rail projects linking the Emirates and key cities in the country.

The first phase of Etihad Rail has been fully operational since 2016 with the option of expanding outside the UAE.

The UAE Railways program is part of Projects 50, which is a series of economic development projects aimed at accelerating the development of the UAE, making it an integrated hub in all sectors and strengthening its status as an ideal destination for talented people and investors.

The UAE Railways program was launched during a special event at EXPO 2020 in Dubai. At the event, the goals of the program and the stages of the Etihad Rail project were announced.

Investments in the program amount to AED 50 billion, 70 percent of which is aimed at the local market. The program will contribute to the creation of more than 9,000 jobs in the railway sector and ancillary sectors by 2030.

The program is helping to cut 70 to 80 percent of its carbon emissions over the next 50 years, a move that supports the UAE efforts to preserve the environment and achieve its goal of carbon neutrality.

In addition, the UAE rail program includes three key projects. The first project is rail freight, which includes Etihad Rail freight.

The second project is Rail Passenger Services, which aims to connect 11 cities with the UAE from Al Sila to Fujairah. Passenger rail transport at a speed of 200 km/h will connect 11 cities in the UAE, where passengers can get from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes, and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes. The number of passengers is expected to reach over 36.5 million annually by 2030.

The third project is the Integrated Transport Service, where an innovation center will be created to ensure the integration of intelligent transport solutions. The light rail network will be connected to the passenger train system to facilitate transportation within UAE cities.

In addition, smart applications and solutions will be developed to plan and book trips, integrate logistics operations, port and customs services, and provide integrated logistics solutions.

The UAE Railways Program creates huge economic opportunities worth AED 200 billion; estimated benefits from carbon savings of AED 21 billion, road maintenance AED 8 billion, in addition to achieving tourism benefits estimated at AED 23 billion over the next 50 years, while public benefits for the UAE economy will reach AED 23 billion.

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