Etihad rail: everything we know so far

There is a new railway service coming to the UAE. The Etihad Rail will provide rail connections between all the Emirates and between the Emirates and Oman. It is expected that the upcoming passenger train, which will connect the emirates faster, more environmentally friendly and more convenient, will create an exciting era of travel between the emirates. Here’s what we know so far!

Which places does the Etihad rail connect?

The Etihad Rail will provide rail connections between all the Emirates and between the Emirates and Oman. In addition, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah have been connected to the main line, which will allow passengers to travel across the UAE up to 2030 by taking advantage of the exciting new service.

When will the project be complete?

According to reports, there were trains spotted on the tracks alongside Al Qudra in Dubai on Friday November 18 2022, indicating that Etihad Rail is ramping up its testing. On 24 January 2023, new images of Etihad Rail’s Al Qudra bridge were shared. The longest rail bridge in Dubai, the track stretches over Al Qudra road, and will provide a key route for trade. Going by the Etihad rail website, 70.1% of the track construction has been completed.

As a result of the construction of the railway, carbon emissions will be reduced by 70 to 80 percent, and over 9,000 jobs will also be created.

Etihad Rail shared new photos in a tweet, stating, “Based in the Emirate of Dubai, our Al Qudra bridge forms a vital route for trade and commerce that is a positive contribution to the movement of goods throughout the UAE. It is the longest rail bridge within the Emirate’s mainline network.”

Who is designing the train?

It is the Spanish company CAF that has designed the Etihad Rail passenger train, which will manufacture, supply, and maintain the trains in compliance with European standards as part of the Etihad Rail project. There will be over 400 passengers on each train and they will travel at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour. The passengers will be able to select from a variety of seating segments including first class, business class, and economy seats.

How long will it take to travel from the UAE to Oman on this train?

It is estimated that passenger trains will travel at a maximum speed of 200 km per hour. This is pretty fast, but not as fast as some of the high-speed trains around the world, from Germany to China, which you might have experienced elsewhere. Adding 460 kph to the Shanghai Maglev train in China is the fastest public train in the world, and it is the fastest train in the world.

A train travel time between Abu Dhabi and Sohar is estimated to take one hour 40 minutes, while a train travel time between Al Ain and Sohar is estimated to take just 47 minutes. The Oman-Etihad-Rail provides a rapid train service, so travel times will be drastically reduced.

What are the amenities on the train?

In addition to high levels of security and efficiency, the Etihad Rail passenger train will provide a wide range of amenities, entertainment, and comfortable seating with the latest entertainment systems, charging stations, food and beverage services, and lots of legroom as well as advanced air conditioning.

We’re closely tracking any updates of the Etihad rail. Watch this space for more!

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