ABU DHABI, 10th May, 2014 (WAM) -- Etihad Rail has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Railway Company (SAR) that will enhance collaboration and coordination for the rail industry among GCC members.
Signed by Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Acting CEO of Etihad Rail and SAR?s CEO Dr. Rumaih bin Muhammad Al Rumaih, the MoU seeks to introduce common solutions, leverage best practice and allow for the free exchange of ideas and knowledge to improve the safety, efficiency, and economy of both countries? railways networks. The agreement will serve as a partnership between both parties and will enhance the relationship and long-term collaboration that will ultimately promote and lead to the successful economic development of the railway industry in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Committees including representatives from both parties will be created and collaborative meetings, seminars, and workshops will be held on a regular basis. Commenting on the MoU, Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, Acting CEO of Etihad Rail, said: "We are proud to announce this important MoU with SAR. We already work closely with our GCC neighbours in an effort to ensure that technical standards and technology for the railway network in the GCC are consistent, and this agreement will pave the way for greater cooperation, collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge with SAR.""We can greatly benefit from Saudi Arabia?s pioneering experience, particularly given that both Etihad Rail and SAR share common goals and aim to leverage the latest technology and the highest standards of safety, and to provide the most sustainable services in the transportation field." Al Mazrouei added, "Work on the UAE?s national railway is progressing on schedule, and Etihad Rail believes that forming strong relationships with stakeholders of all railway projects in the GCC will further contribute to the success of the operation of the rail, as well as provide a secure link between the UAE and its neighbours. We are pleased that the completion of Stage One of Etihad Rail also represents the completion of the first stage of the main GCC line." Commenting on the MoU, Dr. Rumaih bin Mohammad Al Rumaih, CEO of SAR, said, "Establishing such relations and cooperation with Etihad Rail will improve both projects? execution mechanism and operations efficiency, in the future, not only for Saudi Arabia and the UAE but for all GCC countries. This will contribute to creating an attractive market environment for rail and open doors to compete with other means of transportation, especially for freight and heavy haul. He also stated, that SAR had built, through the last eight years, an extensive experience in both railway projects and operations that our partners across the GCC can benefit from. The scale of the whole Saudi railway networks, between cities, is more than 7200 kilometres. SAR is taking a big portion of that by projects of more than 4500 kilometres."Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2014.
