Board and senior management members assess latest developments on the ground

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 10 March, 2013: Members of the board of Etihad Rail- the developer and operator of the UAE's national railway network - conducted a site visit in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi at the end of last week to observe first-hand the latest progress and developments of the project.

The board members first visited the sleeper factory in Mirfa, where they assessed its various facilities, production lines and depot. The group then moved on to survey the various features of the rolling stock, including the recently-arrived wagons, which will be used when trains run for the very first time in the Western region by year-end. The board members then witnessed the process by which the sleepers and tracks are laid on the ground, before their final stop at the trial sand mitigation site, which enables better understanding of windblown sand behaviour and its effect on the railway.  

The visit by the board members, led by H.E. Nasser Alsowaidi, Chairman of Etihad Rail, is part of the board's continued efforts to experience developments first-hand as well as to hear about recent achievements directly from the teams working on the ground, particularly with Stage One progressing on schedule for its inaugural journey in 2013.

Commenting on the site visit, H.E. Nasser Alsowaidi, Chairman of Etihad Rail, said: "We at Etihad Rail appreciate the unremitting support of our government for this project, which - once operational - will herald a new era of transport for the UAE. We look forward to the arrival of our locomotives this quarter and eagerly anticipate the first train running from Habshan to Ruwais by the end of this year."

Etihad Rail's Chairman, H.E. Nasser Alsowaidi, was accompanied by H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Board; H.E. Dr. Nasser Saif Al-Mansoori, Etihad Rail CEO; and a number of board members including H.E. Abdallah Mohamed Al Zari, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bill Haif Al Nuaimi H.E. Mohamed Hareb Al Yousef, and H.E. Jamal Magid Bin Thaniah. The board members were joined by members of Etihad Rail's senior management team, including Dr. Hazem Mobarek, Executive Director of Projects, and Shadi Malak, Executive Director of Commercial.

Upon completion, the Etihad Rail network will extend approximately 1,200 km across the Emirates, catering to both freight and passengers. It will connect urban and remote communities, facilitate trade, open up communication channels and foster economic development.  The network will also form a vital part of the GCC Railway Network - linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and Oman via Al Ain in the east.

About Etihad Rail
Etihad Rail was established in June 2009 under Federal Law no. 2, with a mandate to manage the development, construction and operation of the UAE's national freight and passenger railway network.

The railway network will be built in phases to link the principal centres of population and industry of the UAE, as well as to form a vital part of the planned GCC railway network linking the six countries of the GCC.

Built to international standards, Etihad Rail's state of the art network will act as a catalyst for economic growth and sustained social development. Once complete, the railway will redefine logistics and transport in the region, providing a modern, safe, efficient, sustainable network that will connect all regions of the UAE, and the UAE to its wider GCC neighbouring countries.

Etihad Rail has recently announced a number of contract awards for Stage One of the rail network including:

The Civil & Track Works contract was awarded to a consortium comprising Italy's Saipem, Tecnimont and UAE-based Dodsal Engineering and Construction

The Project Management Consultant (PMC) contract which was awarded to joint venture Parsons-Aecom

PCM Strescon Ventures was awarded the contract for the provision of railway sleepers. The Indian-based company will be responsible for the provision of railway sleepers in a purpose-built sleeper manufacturing facility at our rail head

Electro-Motive Diesel, from North America, was assigned to deliver seven locomotives custom-built for desert conditions by 2012

CSR Corporation Limited China was appointed to supply 240 covered hopper wagons for the movement of granulated sulphur in the Western Region

Etihad Rail has also signed several Memorandums of Understanding with the following companies:

DP World, for the development of an intermodal rail terminal in Jebel Ali Port which will enable the more efficient transfer of containerised freight arriving at the port inland

Centre of Waste Management - Abu Dhabi, who will use the network as a vital component in its future sustainable waste transport system, integrating the network into its plans to convert waste into energy and using Etihad Rail's custom-made rail concepts to centralise its services and facilities

Sharjah Cement Factory, for the efficient transport of basic raw materials, and cement to its customers throughout the UAE

DHL, who will use the rail network as soon as Etihad Rail's second stage is operational, helping DHL first and foremost with connections between Jebel Ali in Dubai and Ghweifat at the Saudi Arabian border, and subsequently assisting with transportation across the rest of the Emirates

HOYER Global Transport BV, who will be working with Etihad Rail to develop a safe and sustainable bulk liquid transportation system across the UAE, and linking to the GCC

Global Shipping & Logistics, the Dubai-based logistics company who will use the Etihad Rail network for cold chain services

Arkan and Emirates Steel, leading manufacturers who seek to use rail as the main method of transportation for their raw and finished materials

Al Dahra Agriculture Company, who plan to use rail as a more efficient means of transporting hay as soon as Etihad Rail's second stage is operational

Sharaf Logistics, a world class Dubai-based services provider of supply chain solutions with a strong history in maritime and container shipping, who will use the network to transport its customers' goods

Etisalat and Du, whose expertise in telecommunications services will benefit Etihad Rail while both companies gain access to and use of the railway infrastructure to magnify their growing network and customer base in the UAE

For more information, please visit the Etihad Rail website at: www.etihadrail.ae

Or, please contact:
Haneen Aweidah, Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Tel: +971 56 6551205
Email: Haneen.aweidah@hkstrategies.com 

© Press Release 2013