Etihad Rail
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2021) |
| الاتحاد للقطارات | |
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| Overview | |
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| Headquarters | 6 Al Multaqa Street,Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates |
| Key people |
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| Locale | United Arab Emirates |
| Dates of operation | June 2009–present |
Owner | |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in)standard gauge |
| Length | 1,200 km (746 mi) |
| Other | |
| Website | etihadrail.ae |
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Etihad Rail(Arabic:الاتحاد للقطارات) is theUnited Arab Emiratesnational railway network. It was established in June 2009 under Federal Law No. 2 to manage the development, construction and operation of the United Arab Emirates' national freight and passenger railway network.[1]Etihad Rail aims to link the UAE's principal centres of industry and population, and to link these centres with other railways throughout theGulf Cooperation Council.[1]
Etihad Rail is being developed in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and the UAE Vision 2021, which in turn contributes to economic diversification through strategic initiatives set to bolster UAE socio-economic growth and diversification.[2]
Commercial operations of Stage One commenced in January 2016 on time and within budget.[1][3]The operator of Stage One isEtihad Rail DB,which is a joint venture between Etihad Rail andDeutsche Bahn,Europe's largest railway operator, which was set up in 2013.[4]
Since the signing of finance agreements for Stage Two, Etihad Rail has finalised routes and reserved Etihad Rail's corridors and lands by signing agreements with the relevant authorities throughout the Emirates, awarded all of Stage Two packages and launched constructions work on these packages.[5]
As of 2024, while freight services are operational, there are no scheduled passengers services or a published timeline for starting them.[6]
History
[edit]In 2004, the six countries of theGulf Cooperation Councilcommissioned a feasibility study regarding a railway network spanning the region.[7]Etihad Rail was founded in June 2009 following the passage of Federal Law No. 2.[1]
In April 2024, Etihad Rail andOman Railannounced a new joint venture,Hafeet Rail,that will construct 300 km (190 mi) of new railway to connect the Etihad Rail network atAbu Dhabiwith the port ofSohar,Oman, passing throughAl Ain.[8]
Stage One
[edit]264 km (164 mi) long Stage One of Etihad Rail connecting the inland gas fields ofLiwaandShahto the port town ofRuwais,became operational in January 2016.[3]
Stage Two
[edit]Construction of 605 kilometres (376 mi) long[3]on Stage Two, which runs fromGhuweifat,on the border ofSaudi Arabia,toFujairah,on theUAE's eastern coast, began in 2020.[1]The first track for Stage Two was laid in early 2021.[1]Stage Two opened on February 28, 2023[1]
Network
[edit]Overview
[edit]The network, when complete, will be approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) in length, will connect all seven of itsemirates,and will link theUAEto theKSAviaGhuweifatin the west running toFujairahon the east coast.[7]The network will usediesel traction,with the potential to electrify in the future.
Etihad Rail's freight trains will reach speeds up to 120 km/h (75 mph),[9]and its passenger trains will reach speeds up to 200 km/h (120 mph).[7]
The network will usestandard gauge,mainlydouble track,be designed for mixed-use traffic, use a European signaling system (ETCS level 2), and have heavy haul 32.5 tonnesaxle loadsand the loading gauge on the track accommodates double stack containers.
Stage One: Shah – Habshan – Ruwais (operational)
[edit]Etihad Rail completed Stage One of the network in January 2016,[3]delivered on schedule and within budget.[1]The route spans 264 km (164 mi), transporting granulated sulphur from sources atShahandHabshanto the processing and export point atRuwais.[3][7]It currently has the capacity to transport 22,000 tonnes of granulatedsulphureach day.[3]
The operator of Stage One isEtihad Rail DB,which is a joint venture between Etihad Rail andDeutsche Bahn,Europe's largest railway operator, which was set up in 2013.[10]Etihad Rail DB is responsible for the operations and maintenance of Stage One of the railway network for Etihad Rail's primary customer, theAbu Dhabi National Oil Company.[11]
Stage One utilises seven locomotives from U.S.-basedElectro-Motive Diesel,equipped with theETCS Level 2in-cab European signalling system and international standard safety features.[12]In addition, it is operating with up to 110 wagons per run, equipped with safety features includingECPBbrakes and derailment protection.[3]
Stage Two: Ghuweifat – Fujairah (operational)
[edit]Stage Two opened on February 28, 2023. It will extend 605 kilometres (376 mi) fromGhuwaifaton the border withSaudi ArabiatoFujairahon the east coast.[3]
Stage Two PMC & Engineering Contracts were awarded in 2018 toEgis GroupandJacobs Solutions Increspectively, for development and supervision of the next phase fromGhuwaifatin the west toFujairahon the east coast.[13]
Package A running for 139 kilometres (86 mi) from Ghuwaifat toRuwais(where the route links with Stage One of the network), will become the first rail connection between theUAEand Saudi Arabia.[14]Contracts for the Design and Build of Package A were awarded to a joint venture between theChina State Construction Engineering Corporationand South Korea'sSKEngineering and Construction.[3]
Packages B and C of the network, which connect Stage One to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, have been awarded to a joint venture between theChina Railway Construction Corporationand the Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting Company.[3]Package B will link with Stage One at Tarif and run for 216 kilometres (134 mi) to Saih Shuaib and Package C from Saih Shuaib toSharjahruns for 94 kilometres (58 mi) with a spur connection toJebel Ali.[3]
Package D, running for 145 kilometres (90 mi), will connect to the port of Fujairah in continuation of Stage Two Package C from the Dubai/Sharjah Border, passing through the Emirates of Sharjah, Fujairah andRas al-Khaimah.[3]The contract for Package D has been awarded to a joint venture of the China Railway Construction Corporation and National Projects and Construction, NPC.[3]Package D includes the construction of 35 bridges to span road systems, valleys and wadis, 32 underpasses and 15 tunnels, totaling 16 kilometres (9.9 mi), through theAl Hajar Mountainsusing blast-tunneling technology.[15]
A systems and integration contract has been awarded toHitachi Rail STSfor the supply ofEuropean Rail Traffic Management Systemtechnology and related equipment across the network.[16]A freight facilities contract was awarded to a joint venture ofLarsen & ToubroandPower China International,to construct freight facilities for the railway network.[citation needed]Under the terms of the contract, the two companies will be jointly responsible for the surveying, design, construction, equipment installation, testing and pre-commissioning of each facility.[citation needed]Etihad Rail is building a series of freight facilities in Ruwais,Industrial City of Abu Dhabi(ICAD),Khalifa Port,Dubai Industrial City,Jebel Ali Port,Al Ghayl &Fujairah Portcapable of undertaking all loading and unloading operations, in addition to providing container storage and maintenance.[citation needed]
Progress Railwill design, manufacture, test, and ship 38EMD locomotivesspecially designed to withstand the high temperatures and humidity of the gulf region. Additionally, the locomotives will be equipped with a state-of-the-art air filtration system that filters sand from the air intake and pulse cleaning systems, ensuring effective and efficient operations.[17]
A contract for an operations and management facility in Al Faya has been awarded to a joint venture led byVinci ConstructionFrance. The facility will be the largest facility for the network; it will be responsible for warehousing, installations, operations, and the maintenance of locomotives and wagons.[18]
Stage 3: Dubai – Fujairah – Ras al-Khaimah (planned)
[edit]Stage 3 will connectDubaito the northern Emirates of Fujairah andRas al-Khaimah.The total track length will be 279 kilometres (173 mi).[19]There is no current timeline for this expansion.[20]
Impact
[edit]Geopolitical
[edit]Etihad Rail aims to provide transportation links between theUAEand itsGulf Cooperation Councilneighbors,[1]and Stage Two of the railway is planned to connect to the border ofSaudi Arabia.[1][3]However, other Gulf Cooperation Council countries have lagged behind in rail, in large part due to complications arising from their failed adoption of the proposedKhaleejicurrency, and due to theQatar diplomatic crisis.[7]
Political
[edit]A senior fellow at theMiddle East Institutesuggested that the progress on the project has been stunted by a high degree of sovereignty maintained by the UAE's individualemirates.[7]They suggested that this struggle reflected the relatively new concept of national centralization of political power.[7]
Environmental
[edit]According to Etihad Rail, one fully laden freight train trip on Stage One can replace approximately 300 trucks on the road,[3]resulting in approximately 70-80% lessCO2emissions than trucks moving the same tonnage.[3][21]Rail transport lowers the cost of trade and improves the market position of existing industries, promoting their growth and leading to economic diversification through the creation of a new transport infrastructure and its related ecosystem.[citation needed]
Based on traffic volume forecasts, the Etihad Rail network will reduce greenhouse gases by more than 2.2 million tonnes annually: the equivalent of taking up to 375,000 vehicles off the roads.[citation needed]
The cost savings made by businesses that transfer their freight via rail will enable them to be more commercially successful and therefore contribute more to economic growth.[citation needed]
Estimated total benefits of emissions savings, accounting for truck freight and passengers moving from road to rail, is approximately AED24Bn over the next 50 years.[citation needed]
Social
[edit]The railway will connect rural areas to cities, improving connectivity and generating wider economic benefits for these areas.[citation needed]
Etihad Rail projects the value of time saved for road users who will shift to the rail network, will amount to 10 billionDirhamover 40 years.[21]
Etihad Rail also projects a reduction in rates of automotive accidents on the country's roads due to this shift to rail, estimating that the rail will result in 670 fewer crashes and 52 fewer deaths annually.[21]They project that these impacts will amount to benefits totalling 20 billion Dirham over 40 years.[21]
Economic
[edit]Etihad Rail's website suggests that its railway will provide 186 billionDirhamin economic benefits over the course of 40 years, factoring in elements such as reduced transportation costs, as well as faster transportation times, lower emission impacts, and increased tourism generation.[21]
Cargo, whetherintermodal,bulkorbreak-bulk,can often be carried on rail at rates which are more competitive than other means of transport.[citation needed]Rail is part of the overall infrastructure development program in the UAE and will stimulate economic growth in the UAE and support the diversification of the economy.[5]
The increase in land value of areas around rail stations will lead to revenue from leasing of potential residential, commercial and industrial developments, with a potential enhanced land value of AED23Bn over the next 50 years.[citation needed]
Etihad Rail estimates that its railway will generate an estimated 21 billion Dirham in tourism revenues over 40 years.[21]
Etihad Rail also estimates that its railway will result in fewer trips via road, reducing the need for road maintenance, resulting in road maintenance costs being reduced by 7 billion Dirham over 40 years.[21]
See also
[edit]- Transport in the United Arab Emirates
- Rail transport in the United Arab Emirates
- Railway stations in the United Arab Emirates
- Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghij"About Etihad Rail".etihadrail.ae.Archivedfrom the original on 5 July 2021.Retrieved7 July2021.
- ^"Etihad Rail: A Key Economic project in UAE's Vision 2021, Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030".gulfnews.16 April 2023.Retrieved21 June2023.
- ^abcdefghijklmnop"Project Update".etihadrail.ae.Archived fromthe originalon 7 July 2021.Retrieved7 July2021.
- ^Dennehy, John (16 May 2023)."How Etihad Rail's freight service aims to cut travel times for UAE motorists".The National.Retrieved21 June2023.
- ^abClarke, Kelly (13 October 2022)."What is Etihad Rail? Full guide to the region's biggest train project".The National.Retrieved21 June2023.
- ^https:// thenationalnews /uae/transport/2024/01/26/etihad-rail-map-route-explained/
- ^abcdefg"Fledgling UAE rail network step towards bridging the Gulf".France 24.25 June 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 7 July 2021.Retrieved7 July2021.
- ^https:// railway.supply/en/construction-of-the-hafeet-rail-railway/
- ^Dennehy, John (16 May 2023)."How Etihad Rail's freight service aims to cut travel times for UAE motorists".The National.Retrieved4 July2023.
- ^Salian, Neesha (27 September 2022)."Etihad Rail concludes knowledge transfer programme with Deutsche Bahn".Retrieved4 July2023.
- ^Sharma, Alkesh (29 November 2022)."Etihad Rail joins forces with Borouge for sustainable transport".The National.Retrieved4 July2023.
- ^Nagraj, Aarti (14 January 2013)."MENA's Rail Projects Gather Speed | UAE News".Retrieved4 July2023.
- ^Tesorero, Angel."Soon, ride luxury train from UAE to Oman: New service announced".Khaleej Times.Retrieved4 July2023.
- ^"Etihad Rail completes 139-kilometer track linking UAE, Saudi Arabia".Arab News.30 September 2021.Retrieved4 July2023.
- ^"Etihad Rail awards contract for Package D linking project".Global Railway Review.18 December 2019.Retrieved19 February2022.
- ^"Etihad Rail awards $436m contract to Italy's Hitachi Rail STS".Construction Week Online.9 October 2019.Retrieved19 February2022.
- ^"Etihad Rail awards locomotives supply contract to Progress Rail".Construction Week Online.27 February 2020.Retrieved19 February2022.
- ^"Etihad Rail awards contract for construction of Al Faya O&M facility".Global Railway Review.6 April 2020.Retrieved19 February2022.
- ^https:// railwaygazette /freight/etihad-rail-awards-stage-2/3-consultancy-contract/46514.article
- ^https:// thenationalnews /uae/transport/2024/01/26/etihad-rail-map-route-explained/
- ^abcdefg"Rail Benefits".etihadrail.ae.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2021.Retrieved7 July2021.
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