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Publish Date : 31-Oct-2015

Etihad Rail stated that it has completed stage one of the project and is awaiting authorization to start work on 628km of track linking the UAE with Saudi Arabia and Oman. Senior spokespeople in a panel session at the NATRANS Arabia conference highlighted the progress achieved on the AED40 billion ($11bn) scheme and outlined the next steps. John Thomas, regulatory affairs advisor at Etihad Rail, at the event said, Construction of the 264km stage one line running between sources at Shah and Habshan, to the point of export at Ruwais in the western region of Abu Dhabi has been completed.

He said, Our operating partner Etihad Rail DB has transported more than 2.5 million tonnes of granulated sulphur since September last year during the testing and commissioning and trial operations phase. The developer and operator of the UAEs 1,200km long rail network is at present looking to get regulatory approvals to begin full commercial operations on stage one, and begin delivering stage two. Covering 628km of track, stage two will link the rail network in Abu Dhabi to the Saudi border at Ghweifat and the Omani border at Al Ain. It will connect areas for example Mussaffah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai.

Preliminary design and engineering for the 2nd stage have been completed and the tender process for 6 construction packages is in the final stages of evaluation. The tender packages, which were newly re-issued following further project studies, comprise signalling, project management consultancy and construction of railway lines connecting Abu Dhabi to Dubai and the neighbouring states of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Etihad Rail is at present in the final stages of the tender evaluation process and recommendations will be presented to the board before the end of 2015, Thomas said. Stage two will represent a major step to link the UAE to the wider GCC rail network by connecting the country to Saudi Arabia and Oman, and initial construction is expected to commence soon after contracts have been finalised and awarded.

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