Bye-bye traffic! Commuters will soon been darting between destinations across the UAE in no time at all, thanks to high-speed Etihad Rail.
The countdown has officially begun as the national railway network revealed travel times from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, Al Ruwais and Fujairah via its social media channels earlier this week. Once operational, this is what passengers can look forward to:
- Abu Dhabi to Dubai: 57 minutes
- Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais: 70 minutes
- Abu Dhabi to Fujairah: 105 minutes
While Etihad Rail has been running freight services since 2023, a launch date for the passenger serviecs is yet to be announced, and further information on travel times for additional destinations will be disclosed in due course.
Stretching 900km across the UAE, Etihad Rail will link 11 cities, from Abu Dhabi’s Al Sila in the western region to Fujairah on the east coast. Key stops along the way include Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, and Al Dhaid.
Etihad Rail has unveiled the journey times for its passenger trains across the UAE, starting from Abu Dhabi, once they become operational.
— Etihad Rail (@Etihad_Rail) October 14, 2024
Stay tuned for more destinations and timings!#EtihadRail pic.twitter.com/oSrMFkGvsg
Reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h, Etihad Rail’s high-speed trains will significantly reduce commute times by 30- 40% compared to other modes of motor road transport. Each train will be equipped with modern amenities including Wi-Fi, entertainment systems, charging points, and dining options for up to 400 passengers.
Currently, the freight network connects major maritime ports and industrial zones across the emirates, including Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.
Etihad Rail’s passenger station development is also underway, with the confirmed locations of Sakamkam in Fujairah’s city center, and University City in Sharjah. The daily weekday passenger volume for the service is estimated at 14,000.
When in operation, passengers will be able to use their nol cards to travel on board the Etihad Rail passenger services. In February, Etihad Rail and the RTA forged an agreement to streamline passenger travel with integrated ticketing and payment services through the nol system.
Going beyond borders, the Hafeet Rail connecting Abu Dhabi to Oman announced in April will also be seamlessly connected to the UAE National Rail Network and its stations across the country. On this international service, travel times between Abu Dhabi and Al In to Sohar will take 1h40m (instead of 3h25m); and Sohar to Al Ain will be under 50 mins.High-speed Etihad Rail – Image courtesy of Etihad Rail
