According to Etihad Rail’s announcement the train will travel at 350 km/h through major travel and tourist areas.
Past project reports suggested Al Jaddaf and Yas Island stations would start operations first with next steps at Al-Zahiyah, Saadiyat Island and Abu Dhabi Airport but Thursday’s announcement did not verify this schedule.
Travelers must take a car or bus for the 140 km route connecting Dubai with Abu Dhabi because no other transportation options exist at present. The rising traffic during rush hour now extends the trip duration to well over 1.5 hours. During the opening ceremony at the Al Faya Depot in Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized that the project supports the nation’s push for infrastructure development and mobility improvements through sustainable growth.
Previous reports of the project pointed to the first two stations at Al Jaddaf, Dubai, and Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, to be followed by other stations at Al-Zahiyah, Saadiyat Island and Abu Dhabi Airport, although Thursday’s announcement did not confirm this.
The journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is about 140 km depending on the departure and arrival points, can currently only be done by car or bus. With increasing road congestion, especially during rush hour, the journey can take more than 1.5 hours.
During a ceremony at the Al Faya Depot in Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s leader and president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the crown prince of Dubai and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, stressed that the project is part of the country’s efforts to boost infrastructure, improve mobility and stimulate economic growth through sustainable approaches.
The new rail service will generate AED145 billion of economic value for UAE citizens and residents across fifty years.
The announcement left readers without any information about how much the project would cost and when work would begin.
Four stations will open first in this transport network to improve connections between major cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.
