March 12 - Members of the board of Etihad Rail visited the western region of Abu Dhabi to observe first-hand the latest progress of the UAE's national railway network.
HLPFI reported at the end of February that Etihad Rail secured USD1.28 billion financing for Stage One of the rail network that when finished will stretch 264 km, linking Shah and Habshan to Ruwais (http://tinyurl.com/cykw3gj).
The board members visited the sleeper factory in Mirfa before going on to survey the features of the rolling stock. The group then witnessed how sleepers and track is laid before stopping at the trial sand mitigation site - which shows windblown sand behaviour and its effect on the railway.
According to Etihad Rail, the visit is part of the board's efforts to experience developments first-hand and to hear about recent achievements directly from teams working on the ground.
Stage One is expected to be live and fully operational before the end of 2013.
Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network will extend approximately 1,200 km across the United Arab Emirates catering to both freight and passengers. It will also form part of the GCC network, linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west, and Oman via Al Ain in the east.
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| Etihad Rail board visits Stage One site |
