United Arab Emirates Union Railway
Encyclopedia
Etihad Rail, formerly Union Railway, is an enterprise founded in 2010 to develop a national railway network in the United Arab Emirates
. The CEO is Richard Bowker
.
to the Shah gas field, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Opening is planned for 2013.
A longer mixed-use railway is also planned, crossing the UAE via Dubai
, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah
, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman
. Links to Saudi Arabia and Oman are planned.
In the longer term, a high speed passenger rail link is being considered between Abu Dhabi
and Dubai
.
In September 2010 Union Railway sought bids from rolling stock
suppliers. In October 2010 the company sought bids from track suppliers. In November 2010, project managers and engineering consultants were appointed.
On 26 October 2011, Etihad Rail announced the signing of a 3.3 billion dirham
contract with Italian companies Saipem and Tecnimont and regional company Dodsal Engineering & Construction for the design and construction of the 266 kilometres (165.3 mi) first phase of the railroad, linking Habshan
with Ruwais
and Shah
by 2014.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The CEO is Richard Bowker
Richard Bowker (British businessman)
Richard Bowker CBE is former Chief executive officer of National Express Group. He attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn, read Economics at Leicester University, and played as a professional session pianist for a year, after which he joined the London Underground as a Graduate...
.
Project
Etihad Rail is developing a 1200 kilometres (745.6 mi) railway network across the United Arab Emirates. The first stage would be a 270 kilometres (167.8 mi) freight line, linking RuwaisRuwais
Al Ruwais is a town located some 240 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi city. The Ruwais industrial and housing complex has been developed by ADNOC as a major contributor to the national economy and represents a series of multi-million-dollar investments by the company...
to the Shah gas field, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Opening is planned for 2013.
A longer mixed-use railway is also planned, crossing the UAE via Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah
Fujairah
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, and the only one on the Gulf of Oman in the country's east instead of Persian Gulf .-History:...
, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman
Ajman
Ajman , also spelt Ujman, is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates . With an area of just 260 square kilometres , Ajman is the smallest emirate by area...
. Links to Saudi Arabia and Oman are planned.
In the longer term, a high speed passenger rail link is being considered between Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
.
In September 2010 Union Railway sought bids from rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
suppliers. In October 2010 the company sought bids from track suppliers. In November 2010, project managers and engineering consultants were appointed.
On 26 October 2011, Etihad Rail announced the signing of a 3.3 billion dirham
Dirham
Dirham or dirhem is a unit of currency in several Arab or Berber nations, and formerly the related unit of mass in the Ottoman Empire and Persian states...
contract with Italian companies Saipem and Tecnimont and regional company Dodsal Engineering & Construction for the design and construction of the 266 kilometres (165.3 mi) first phase of the railroad, linking Habshan
Habshan
Habshan is an area in the southwestern part of the emirate of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.It is currently a major oil and gas field for both ADCO and GaSCO companies. It contains oil field and camps for oil workers. The major part of this region is marked as a red zone due to the presence...
with Ruwais
Ruwais
Al Ruwais is a town located some 240 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi city. The Ruwais industrial and housing complex has been developed by ADNOC as a major contributor to the national economy and represents a series of multi-million-dollar investments by the company...
and Shah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
by 2014.
Organisation
The name was changed from "Union Railway" to "Etihad Rail in March 2011. The brand was created by a UAE based brand consultancy, Brash Brands.Fleet
In July 2011 Etihad Rail ordered seven Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACS diesel locomotives for delivery in 2012. This was followed in September 2011 by an order for CSR Corporation Limited to supply 240 covered wagons to carry granulated sulphur from 2013.See also
- Transport in the United Arab Emirates
- Railway stations in the United Arab Emirates