DUBAI: Etihad Rail has completed construction works on a stretch of the 1200-km UAE National Railway Network, the company said on Wednesday.
The work was completed ahead of schedule on Package A of Stage Two, which extends over 139 km, and its connection through Al Ghuwaifat on the border of Saudi Arabia with Stage One, which extends for 264 km from Habshan to Al Ruwais.
A meeting chaired by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, said the work brings the company closer to completing the UAE National Railway Network on schedule.
Once completed, the railway network will link the principal centers of population and industry of the UAE.
Etihad Rail has completed Stage One of the network, which is fully operational and was delivered on schedule. The route spans 264 km, transporting granulated sulfur from sources at Shah and Habshan to the export point at Ruwais.
Stage Two links the UAE and Saudi Arabia from Fujairah Port to Ghuweifat through Mussafah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port.
Upon completion, the railway is likely to redefine logistics and mobility in the region, providing a modern, safe, efficient and sustainable mode of transport that will connect all regions of the UAE to its neighboring GCC countries.
The meeting said Etihad Rail was successful in reserving 40 percent of the network’s annual transport capacity, which by the completion of Stage Two will amount to 60 million tons of goods per year.
This was achieved through the commercial agreements Etihad Rail has signed including those with Stevin Rock, one of the biggest quarrying companies in the world, Western Bainoona Group, and Al Ghurair Iron & Steel (AGIS).
