UAE achieves key construction milestone in $13.6bln rail network

UAE achieves key construction milestone in $13.6bln rail network

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of UAE's rail network, has achieved a major construction milestone in the country's AED50 billion ($13.6 billion) railways programme - the largest integrated system for transporting goods and passengers across the country - by successfully connecting Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port to the mainland with the construction of the emirates’ first rail marine bridge.

The UAE Railway Programme includes three key projects; the first is the Freight Rail, which includes the Etihad Rail freight services.

The second is the Rail Passenger Service that aims to connect 11 cities - starting from Al Sila to Fujairah. At a speed of 200 km/h, the service will connect these cities within the UAE, where passengers can travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes, and from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in 100 minutes.

By 2030, the number of passengers is expected to reach more than 36.5 million annually, said Etihad Rail in its statement.

The third project is the Integrated Transportation Service, where an innovation centre will be established to ensure the integration of the smart transportation solutions. A network of light rail will be connected to the Rail Passenger System to facilitate transportation inside UAE cities.

"The one-kilometre bridge, which runs