It was never cool to be knowledgeable about trains. In fact, until recently, the phrase “train spotter” was regarded as a derogatory epithet used in the playground. The strength of TikTok and Francis Bourgeois’s sincerity of message, however, allowed him to forever alter popular conceptions of train realities. Francis Bourgeois is the arch-duke of train fanaticism.
The concept of rail travel also has an enduringly romantic quality. As you have your ticket punched and travel past stunning panoramas, the rhythmic swaying of the carriages is gently rocking you in the direction of your destination. Perhaps there will be “an incident” and a moustachioed Belgian will have to rule out probable offenders one by one using irrational leaps of logic. Even if you’re in coach, we’re saying it’s a first-class way to go.
You’ve also come to the proper place if you’re interested in learning what the UAE’s own Etihad Rail project would entail for regional transport. Here are the answers to ten of the most frequently asked queries regarding the railway that will connect the seven UAE emirates.
So will it be for passengers or just for cargo?
There are two elements to the Etihad Rail Project — the rail network has been designed to support both freight and passenger services. There’s the massive commercial-industrial component, one that has in fact already begun with the transport of granulated sulphur in the west of Abu Dhabi.
Are we getting close?
No and yes. The National Rail Network’s goods train service was formally launched on February 23, 2023, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. However, passenger operations can go more slowly.
When can we expect to board the ship?
When will users of Etihad Rail be able to board? Tickets aren’t quite due at the platform yet, even though we know you’re eager to hear requests for them. The service is expected to carry an estimated “36.5 million passengers by 2030,” according to an official announcement made during a special “Projects of the 50” event hosted at Expo2020 in December 2021. And the work towards this goal is, appropriately enough, “on track.” However, we were given a sneak preview of the trains’ appearance.
How quickly will it get me from Dubai to Abu Dhabi (or vice versa)?
When news spoke to Ahmed Al Musawa, Executive Director of Passenger Services Sector at Etihad Rail pertaining to travel time between the emirates, here’s what he said
Ahmed Al Musawa: Train passenger services will enable users to plan their journeys between the emirates and cities more efficiently, significantly decreasing the travel time:
- Traveling from Abu Dhabi to Dubai will take up to 50 minutes
- Traveling from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah will take 100 minutes
- Traveling from Dubai to Fujairah will take 50 minutes.
- Traveling from Abu Dhabi To Ruwais will take 70 minutes
