Etihad Rail: Over 10,000 tickets sold as UAE's first passenger train launches

Dubai: Etihad Rail tickets requested more than 10,000 to start with since the dispatch of the initial segment of the UAE's first national traveler administrations started working in front of its memorable opening today.

The demand for tickets comes as the network welcomes its first fare-paying customers on-board the inaugural scheduled services between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi, a huge step in delivering the nation's transport system.

Etihad Rail is commencing its initial operating phase now, with six passenger services running today; thousands of tickets have already been sold ahead of the first train departure.

The historic first service departed Fujairah Station at 5:34 in the morning and crossed the country to reach Mohammed Bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi at 7:19 am.

On one end of the scale, and on cruises taking place today, sell-out crowds onboard right now are enjoying a modern-day high-tech travel experience that is showcasing:

• Guaranteed seating across all carriages

• Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi

• Power outlets available at every seat

• Generous luggage allowances

• Improved Premium Class Services for increased comfort

On this momentous launch Azza Alsuwaidi, Chief Operating Officer at Etihad Rail commented:

"Every great piece of national infrastructure had two “beginnings”: the day it was built, and the day people started to make it their own. What is today, with godly leadership providing us orientation this second beginning.

The departure of its first flight — bound for Fujairah — this morning is when a national vision becomes part of everyday life, a regular way to connect people but also opportunity and the unique places that make our country so special. When those passengers in 2020 are experiencing great-grand-kids, they will remember today that they were there at the beginning.

Seamless end-to-end travel

To accommodate the flow of passengers and facilitate transfers, Etihad Rail has stated that it will work closely with the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility). The rail network is also to be seamlessly incorporated into Abu Dhabi's overall public transport system, so that passengers can move directly onto buses, taxis and other modes of transport.

This connected approach is exactly what Dr. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli (Acting Director General, Integrated Transport Centre) emphasised:

This continues when the passengers get off the train. "So it extends to their last point," AlGhfeli said. "This, the first such convergence between passenger rail and wider public transport in Abu Dhabi, will give residents and visitors an :even greater way to complete their journeys and continue.. [This is] yet another key milestone from a transformational transportation program leading across many modes to a smarter, more connected and more sustainable transport system."

Future bookings

Although tickets at the start sold out, Etihad Rail stated booking systems are open for future outbound services. Customers wishing to travel on the new national rail network can continue to book future tickets directly via the official Etihad Rail website and app.