Rail contract to be awarded end-2011: report

A mega rail network project covering the entire UAE will be awarded towards the end of 2011 and will have a capacity of nearly 16 million passengers a year, the semi official daily 'Al Ittihad' said on Saturday.

Quoting an unnamed official at Etihad Rail, which is implementing the project, the paper said 11 international consortia are bidding for the 1,200-km network, which could cost nearly Dh40 billion.

“The contract will be awarded before the end of this year …Etihad Rail will give the winner a maximum period of one month to start construction,” it said.

“The construction of the infrastructure will begin at Mafraq, Ruwais and Habshan in Abu Dhabi and the first phase of the project will be completed at the end of 2014…the final route of the train was approved in July.”

The Abu Dhabi-based Arabic language daily said the project costs are estimated at Dh40 billion and once it is launched, it will have a capacity to transport 16 million passengers and 50 million tonnes of cargo per year.

“The capacity could climb to 110 million tonnes of cargo and two million containers after the project is linked to the planned rail way in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2030, “ it quoted the official as saying.

According to Etihad Rail website, the railway will connect the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the West and Oman via Al Ain in the East. The railway will be built 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, said Etihad Rail, which was formed in line with a federal law in 2009.

“Built to international standards, Etihad Rail’s state of the art network will enable the rapid transport of passengers and freight, opening up new trade corridors and journey opportunities,” the company said.

“Once complete, the project will redefine logistics and transport in the region, providing as a safe, efficient, sustainable network that links all corners of the UAE, and eventually, the UAE to the wider GCC….…this extensive investment will support the Government’s continued mission to build a diversified economy and continued economic growth.”
 

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