A new railway network is eyed to be built in the UAE connecting five emirates in the country to make travelling easier for residents.
Etihad Rail announced that the planned 1,200km rail network will be connecting the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
The railway network will initially be used for freight services, however, it will eventually be made available for commuting passengers after an upgrade.
“Once fully established, the passenger network will connect principal centres of population within the UAE, and subsequently other neighbouring GCC countries, offering a safer, more efficient, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly mode of transport,” Etihad Rail’s statement on their website read.
Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2016 which connected Al Dhafra to Abu Dhabi.
The budget for stage two of the project, which will extend 605 kilometers from Ghuweifat on the border with Saudi Arabia to Fujairah on the east coast, was approved in November 2018.
“It achieves many benefits and advantages locally and internationally, connecting the emirates and linking industrial areas, boosting economic diversity and supporting economic and social development in the country,” His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Etihad Rail Board of Directors said.
Below is the planned passenger map for the railway network:
Earlier, Hyperloop announced that a transport system which will cut travel time from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and vice versa from more than one hour and 30 minutes to 12 minutes will be built in the UAE and is set to open by 2020.
According to Dubai Media Office, the Hyperloop is a tube-like cabin with embedded touchscreens, strategically positioned seats, and a cozy ambience to offer a more comfortable ride to passengers.
The Hyperloop can run up to 700 miles per hour and is expected to save money lost from late workers due to transport by $800 million (Dh2.9 billion).
