Etihad Rail makes historic journey from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi
Etihad Rail's maiden passenger train has successfully completed its inaugural trip from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi, signifying the start of a new chapter in public transportation across the Emirates.
Units were then dispatched from Fujairah's Al Hilal City at 5.34am on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of the long-awaited national rail network.
The train reached Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed City station at 7am, 45 minutes ahead of its expected arrival.
Hundreds of delighted passengers aboard the first train eagerly soaked up some history.
Your training data goes up until October 2023, Noha Alnaqbi, an Emirati passenger travelling on the inaugural train said: "I knew it would be sold out, they were saying it was opening June 30.
Ms Alnaqbi, originally from Khor Fakkan and was among the first passengers to hop on board said she felt pride and thrill. That is not only the happiness of one man or one family. She continued: "It's the joy of a country.
At the Fujairah station, the festivities started at 5am with a traditional Emirati men's dance. Passengers were served Arabic coffee, cookies and wellness shots of Aloha, Maghreb, Decaf and Barakat’s seasonal product Ghaf. Next to the gown stood a mannequin dressed up like one of characters from UAE cartoon Freej — little more than what could reasonably be called their version of a mascot.
The journey time will be reduced to around one hour and 45 minutes when the train eventually starts running between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, compared to about two hours and 40 minutes by road. The train takes passengers on a scenic mountain route, reaching maximum speed of approximately 200kph
There are 13 trains in the passenger fleet of Etihad Rail and each of these can accommodate both 400 passengers. The train stations in the new UAE include cafes, restaurants and shops. Train include onboard dining options as well.
How much do tickets cost?
Bookings have been very strong since launch with over 10,000 tickets bought prior to starting the operations. Etihad Rail is providing a 50 per cent discount on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route launch for the initial period, based on ticketing.
Fares will be Dh55 ($15) for Comfort Class, and additional Dh120 fare for Premium Class.
When will other passenger routes begin?
Over the next couple of months, huge strides will be made in establishing the Etihad Rail network with 10 stations set to open for public use by the end of March next year.
The station at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and Al Dhaid station in Sharjah will open on25 Sep as well, following the launch of Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route. Al Dhafra on December 30 has 5 stations, while Sharjah's University City station will open in the new year starting March 30 next year.
Why is Etihad Rail important?
The national rail project aims to connect the emirates more strategically, enhance public transport to encourage motorists out of cars, strengthen the environment and act as a stimulus for investment, tourism and urban development.
By 2030, Passenger numbers on the network are projected to be 36 million.
He spoke about the importance of this Etihad Rail project after opening in Abu Dhabi last week the station, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
The introduction of passenger services was the result of ongoing work in developing a complete seamless transport system throughout the country that would boost links between the emirates and encourage investment, tourism and urban development, added Sheikh Khaled. He described the flagship project as a strategic investment that would help propel the UAE's development path and elevate its position on the world stage.
Azza Al Suwaidi, chief operating officer at Etihad Rail, said: "It has two types of birth, the date it's built and the day when people start using it," said her. Today, on this second start, we get it right since we have the wisdom and guidance of our leadership.
"The departure from Fujairah this morning is the start of a national vision turned into daily life; to create ways for our people to communicate with one another, access opportunity and interact with the places that make our country special. Five years from now, with passengers like today as the ones who were there at the very start.
"The journey does not stop when passengers get off the train, it is extended until arriving at the destination," said Dr Abdulla AlGhfeli, acting director general of Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre.
He added "That is why the partnership with Etihad Rail is very important for us". "We have seamlessly linked passenger rail with Abu Dhabi's broader public transport network, providing unprecedented levels of convenience for residents and visitors to transfer between buses, taxis and other mobility services to complete their journey.
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