Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, has officially inaugurated the freight train network of UAE, which is the latest stage of Etihad Rail, the country’s national project.
The state news agency WAM reported on Thursday that Sheikh Mohammed declared the launch of the freight network at the primary control and maintenance center in the Al Fayah region of Abu Dhabi.
He said, ” We are proud of the presentation of our daughters and sons who have worked hard for years to build an ambitious strategic project that will push our national economy to greater heights.”
He added, ” Connecting the Emirates through a national railway network will boost our capabilities and competitiveness and integrate our unity.”
The network will comprise a caravan of 38 locomotives and 1,000 wagons capable of transporting all types of goods.
In total, there were 25 consultants, and 28,000 specialists, who worked on this project. It took 133 million working hours for completion and 40,000 appr from 180 government agencies.
Besides, a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Etihad Rail, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, ” With the support of the UAE leadership, the Emirati talents have turned the dream of our founding fathers into reality.”
The Etihad Rail scheme that will link the country’s trade, industry, and population is progressing.
It will permit travelers to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes.
Besides, the newly created entity will hold an investment power of $3 billion for designing, developing, and operating a railway network connecting Sohar Port to the UAE National Rail Network.
The project supported the local industry by providing 215 companies and local commodities.
Apart from that, the project also supports the sustainable development goals of the UAE and contributes to fulfilling a Net Zero UAE by 2050 by decreasing carbon emissions in the road transport sector by 21 percent and reducing road transport emissions per capita by up to 40 percent by 2050.
The project also considers the Emiratization agenda of taking qualified Emiratis to work in the sector.
