The MoUs come as part of Etihad Rail’s efforts to develop railway services aligned with the UAE National Railways Programme. The UAE Government launched the AED 50 billion (US$13.6 billion) program late last year to establish an integrated cargo and passenger transport system across the country.
It is hoped that the new rail network will contribute to UAE reducing 70-80% of carbon emissions over the next 50 years, a move that supports the country’s efforts to preserve the environment and achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
The MoUs were signed during the second day of Middle East Rail 2022 (May 17-18), which is hosted by Etihad Rail.
Spain’s national railway operator, Renfe, a leader in rail transport for passengers and goods, operates the largest high-speed rail network in Europe and the second largest in the world. It operates about 5,000 trains per day, and transports more than 500 million passengers per year.
Meanwhile, High Speed 1 is a British company that operates high-speed passenger trains in the UK and has the concession to own, operate and maintain the UK’s only high-speed railway. In addition, Railfreight is the third largest rail freight company in the UK, and one of the fastest-growing companies in the railway sector, moving 22% of the UK’s rail freight.
His Excellency Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, said, “Etihad Rail is committed to achieving the goals of the National Railways Programme and completing the Etihad Rail project on schedule. We are constantly working to sign agreements and build partnerships to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the National Rail Network, as part of Etihad Rail’s diligent efforts for bolstering cooperation and exchanging expertise with some of the global leaders in the railway network, to provide the best world-class services.”
The MoUs center on exchanging knowledge, expertise, and the best practices in the railway sector, rail maintenance, and managing technical development such as the planning, design, development, and commissioning.
The first phase of the Etihad Rail freight services project began in January 2016. The project connects Ghuwaifat on the border with Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah on the Eastern Coast, with opportunities to expand beyond the borders of the UAE. Stage two construction of Etihad Rail was launched in 2018, where 70% was achieved in less than 24 months despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.