United Arab Emirates

900 km freight network starts operations

The freight network in l Fayan, Abu Dhabi, started operations on 23rd February 2023. Etihad Rail is expected to transport around 60 million t of freight annually on the 900 km network. Construction of the network began in February 2020, with a total of 11 contractors, 25 consultants, and 28,000 professionals involved in the project. 593 bridges and nine tunnels with a length of 6.5 km were built. A fleet of 38 EMD SD70ACS diesel-electric locomotives will run on the network, for which the contract was signed in February 2020. A date for the start of passenger services on the line has not yet been confirmed.