01 February 2020

Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s integrated railway network, has launched the construction works of Package A of Stage Two of the pan-emirates railway network.

Package A will run 139 km long from Ghuweifat on the UAE-Saudi Arabia border to Ruwais in Abu Dhabi, where it connects with Stage One of the network.

Speaking at the launch, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, and also Etihad Rail, said: “With this launch, we are witnessing a remarkable day for Etihad Rail as we see the transition from planning and design to actual implementation of the project on the ground, following in the footsteps of our founding fathers and as we implement one of the nation’s most strategic projects, one that contributes to the economic development of the country by providing a safe, reliable and integrated alternative mode of transport.”

Package A includes utilisation of 700,000 cu m of ballast besides involvement of 30 million tonnes of earthworks and installation of over 450,000 concrete sleepers provided by Etihad Rail’s own manufacturing plant.

After the launch, Sheikh Theyab attended the signing of a contract between Etihad Rail and a joint venture between India’s leading construction conglomerate Larson and Toubro (L&T) and Power China International for the construction of freight facilities for the railway network at a total cost of Dh1.87 billion ($509 million).

Under the terms of the contract, the two companies will be jointly responsible for the surveying, design, construction, equipment installation, testing and pre-commissioning of each facility, said Etihad Rail.

Etihad Rail CEO Shadi Malak signed the contract with Anupam Kumar of L&T and Hong Lee of Power China International in the presence of SN Subrahmanyan, the managing director of L&T and Wu Wenhao, President of Power China International.

Etihad Rail is building a series of freight facilities in Ruwais, Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), Khalifa Port, Dubai Industrial City (DIC), Jebel Ali Port, Al Ghayl and Siji, Fujairah Port and Khorfakkan Port capable of undertaking all loading and unloading operations, in addition to providing container storage and maintenance.

With this award, Etihad Rail has completed the contract-awarding process of Stage Two of the national network which will connect Fujairah and Khorfakkan on the UAE’s east coast to the country’s Saudi border at Ghuweifat, he added.  

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