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Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Etihad Rail to slash travel time by nearly half: What UAE will be like once trains start
When Etihad Rail passenger train services are rolled out, it has the potential to reduce commute times and give greater connectivity to smaller towns, according to urban planners. The network could even prove a new regional urban system. ' Etihad Rail will redefine mobility across the UAE by enabling reliable, high-speed intercity travel at speeds of up to 200 kmph, reducing commute times by as much as 40 per cent,' said Sercan Alturk, Managing Director at FTI Consulting. 'It's widespread availability will improve social connectivity, foster stronger community ties, and facilitate seamless travel between cities for both work and leisure.' Urban planning expert Shweta Gandhi added that the rail could serve as the 'backbone' of a new regional system. 'Imagine a UAE where you can live in Ajman, work in Abu Dhabi, and spend your weekends in Fujairah, all without relying on a private car,' she said. 'That level of seamless, cross-emirate connectivity could redefine how we think about home, work, and access.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Last week, Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum shared on social media how he rode the passenger train from Dubai to Fujairah and said that he was 'proud' of the country for the project. Etihad Rail is set to launch its passenger train service in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the country's transportation infrastructure. Reduced car dependency According to Sercan, one of the biggest impact the network will have is people's reduced dependency on cars. 'The rail network will offer a reliable and efficient transportation option even in smaller towns,' he said. 'Current projections estimate an annual ridership of 36.5 million passengers, underscoring the network's role as a cornerstone of national mobility transformation.' He added that beyond the environmental impact, the network will alleviate pressure on road infrastructure, with each train helping to reduce vehicle traffic by up to 300 trucks or private passenger vehicles. Farah Naz, Director Climate and Sustainability Advisory at Aecom, added that the passenger train network would steadily improve. 'As per the Green Transition vision, stated in the UAE's Net Zero Long Term Strategy, the country intends to invest 1,000 kilometres of train infrastructure between 2025 and 2030 to accommodate increased passenger travel,' she said. 'The intention is, the number of passenger trains will rise from 2025 onwards, with a progressive increase up to 2050. Therefore, this project is a significant player in alignment with the decarbonisation vision of UAE.' She shared how trains have one of the lowest carbon emissions among modes of transportation and that Etihad Rail would drastically lower the carbon footprint in the UAE. Jobs Farah explained how apart from having low carbon, low cost, sustainable transportation, the project would also 'establish and sustain a significant number of green jobs around the rail network and the cities and communities it will touch'. Sercan added that by 2030, the network is projected to generate over 9,000 direct jobs. 'In parallel, indirect employment opportunities are anticipated to emerge in retail, hospitality, and real estate, particularly in areas surrounding key station hubs,' he said. 'Improved connectivity is expected to stimulate local economic growth, attract new businesses, and enhance access to education and healthcare, making rural communities more vibrant, livable, and well-integrated with urban centers.' Farah added that a reduction in pollution from industry, energy, and transportation will lead to improved air quality and public health. Challenges Despite the positives, Shweta said that the success of the project could depend on a number of factors. 'How people live and work will depend on last-mile integration, first/last-mile connectivity, and how well it interfaces with local transit systems like the Dubai Metro, buses, and emerging micromobility options in other emirates,' she said. 'The rail alone is not a silver bullet, but it can certainly be a powerful backbone for a multi-modal ecosystem.' She added that if not paired with strong land use controls, there's a risk of sprawl, speculative real estate activity, or non-inclusive growth near stations, especially if smaller towns are seen merely as satellite dormitories rather than holistic communities.
Entrepreneur
04-08-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
UAE Highlights Historic Milestone as Sheikh Mohammed Boards Etihad Rail from Dubai to Fujairah
You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In a defining moment for national transport infrastructure, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, embarked on the first-ever passenger train ride along the Etihad Rail route between Dubai and Fujairah. The test journey, conducted on August 2, signifies a major turning point in the UAE's shift toward a modern, integrated rail network. The trip provided a firsthand look at progress on the Dh 50 billion National Railways Program, which is set to begin commercial passenger services in 2026. Operating at speeds up to 200 km/h, the line will ultimately link 11 cities and regions across the federation—from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah on the east coast. Sheikh Mohammed reflected on the journey, stating, "I'm proud of our national projects... and of a nation that never stops working—one that adds a new brick to its future infrastructure every single day." Meanwhile, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, praised the leadership's enduring support, calling the ride "a symbol of our commitment to advancing strategic national projects." Trains with capacity for up to 400 passengers are expected to serve 36 million riders annually by 2030. The anticipated travel times are: 57 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, and 105 minutes from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah, dramatically shortening current road journeys. The infrastructure rollout is projected to yield AED 200 billion in economic benefits over five decades—covering savings from reduced travel time, lower road accidents, improved land use, and decreased maintenance costs. Emission reductions are also expected to slash land-transport carbon by up to 21% annually by 2050, the equivalent of eliminating 8.2 million tonnes of CO₂ each year. Calibrated for sustainability and connectivity, Etihad Rail's passenger service marks a transformative leap in the UAE's commitment to unify its cities, empower mobility, and lead the region in sustainable infrastructure.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Push for regional train system in B.C.'s Lower Mainland gaining traction
Support for a regional train system in B.C.'s Lower Mainland is increasing a month after CN Rail announced it would be pulling out of its operations in the Sea-to-Sky region. CN Rail's decision to move out of the corridor between Squamish and Exeter, B.C., just northwest of 100 Mile House, led local MP Patrick Weiler to call for a return of passenger rail service, and the region's MLA Jeremy Valeriote is joining those calls. In addition, Mountain Valley Express (MVX), a local advocacy organization, said it's time for Metro Vancouver and the rest of the Lower Mainland to be connected via regional trains, bringing back a commuter service that was delivered through interurban trams in the 1950s. "We estimate that between Abbotsford and downtown Vancouver, that regional rail will take only about 45 minutes," said Lee Haber, MVX's director of strategy and partnerships. "And, of course, this is going to be much more reliable than driving on Highway 1," he added. "If you want people to use transit, you have got to make sure that it's competitive with driving, and if you can do that, people will use it."MVX, which is funded by private and public donations, calculated in a 2023 report that it would cost around $10 billion to build a 350-km regional rail network that would connect the South Coast from Whistler to Chilliwack and most places in between. Metro Vancouver is lagging behind comparable regions like Brisbane, Australia, when it comes to regional rail, Haber said, adding he's already spoken to provincial and local officials about the proposal. WATCH | The feasibility of regional trains on the South Coast: "Regional rail trains go up to 160 km/h, whereas the SkyTrain is limited to only about 80 km/h," he said. "So it's really serving those longer-distance trips, which existing forms of transit aren't really designed to serve." Haber said a regional train system would be viable, whether it is provincially-run, privately-backed or through a First Nations joint venture, and that local leaders and the public at large support the initiative. Region used to have interurban trams In the early 1900s, the Lower Mainland used to be connected by five interurban tram lines — a fully electric service, run by the B.C. Electric Railway Company, that carted passengers to and from downtown Vancouver all the way to Chilliwack. "It was this really incredible time of transportation, that didn't happen just here in the Vancouver region, it happened right across North America," said Gabrielle Sharp, the museum co-ordinator at the Steveston Tram in Richmond, B.C. "But it seemed to last particularly long here because it really suited our our lifestyle and the geography." The Steveston Tram preserves one of the cars used in the heyday of interurban transit in the Lower Mainland, complete with era-appropriate decor and lighting. But Sharp said the system was dismantled after the Second World War in the 1950s due to a number of factors, including expensive tram maintenance and newly-affluent people moving to the suburbs and buying cars. "Oil companies and motor car companies came together, and they pressured governments to say, basically: 'Rails were the way ... of the past and roads and buses and cars, they were the way of the future,'" she said. "So governments were convinced to to do away with rails." Haber said that it was important to preserve some of the disused train lines and corridors in B.C., and undo the mistakes made in the post-Second World War era when it came to transportation and land development. "I think we have a long ways to go until we're competing with the most livable cities in the world, such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam ... and I think part of that is going to involve realizing some of these corridors, that we used to use and abandoned," he said. MLA wants more public transit Jeremy Valeriote, the MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky and interim leader of the B.C. Green Party, said a new rail line specifically in the Sea-to-Sky region would be taken up very favourably by residents. He said there was a dire need for commuter service between Squamish and Pemberton, especially to alleviate congestion along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. But he cautioned that it would be a year before CN Rail advertises the line and offers it for lease, and it could take a minimum of three to five years for a proponent to bring forward a passenger rail proposal there. "This train opportunity is a great thing and I'm excited about it, and many other people are, but it is really medium- to long-term," he said adding more transit to the Sea-to-Sky corridor was part of a list of priorities when the governing B.C. NDP and the B.C. Greens signed a co-operation agreement last December. He is pushing the province for a commuter bus service in the area and said he hoped ferries and trains would eventually create more commuting options in the region. "Rail is kind of a separate and nice to have," he said. "It would have a huge impact on tourists and some commuters, but it's kind of a separate thing that should really come ... after getting buses on the road."
Khaleej Times
02-08-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Look: Sheikh Mohammed rides Etihad Rail passenger train from Dubai to Fujairah
Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum rode the Etihad Rail passenger train during a journey from Dubai to Fujairah. Posting on X, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the significance of the national project, which will connect 11 cities and regions across the country — from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east — with trains capable of reaching speeds up to 200kmph. The passenger service, expected to launch next year, aims to transport 36 million passengers annually by 2030. "Proud of our national projects... proud of the Etihad Trains team led by Theyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed... and proud of a country that never stops working, but adds a new brick every day to its future infrastructure," Sheikh Mohammed wrote.
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
VIA Rail plans to use refurbished cars to improve service between Halifax-Montreal
A passenger section is seen during a tour of The Ocean passenger train at Halifax station in Halifax on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Via Rail is marking 120 years of continuous service by The Ocean, making it the oldest named passenger train in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese HALIFAX — The CEO of Via Rail says the Crown corporation wants to use refurbished rail cars to improve service between Halifax and Montreal. Mario Péloquin made the comments after a ceremony marking the completion of renovations to Via's Halifax station. Péloquin also noted that last year was the 120th anniversary of The Ocean — the train from Montreal to Halifax inaugurated in July 1904. The CEO says the federal government has committed to renewing the corporation's entire Canadian fleet within ten years. And in the interim, Péloquin says there are plans to refurbish stainless steel cars that are being retired in Central Canada for use in the Atlantic region. Mario Péloquin, president and CEO of Via Rail, speaks during a press conference at the company's Halifax station in Halifax on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Via Rail is marking 120 years of continuous service by The Ocean, making it the oldest named passen... Mario Péloquin, president and CEO of Via Rail, speaks during a press conference at the company's Halifax station in Halifax on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Via Rail is marking 120 years of continuous service by The Ocean, making it the oldest named passenger train in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese But Péloquin says he doesn't know yet whether the refurbished cars will be enough to restore daily service to the Halifax-Montreal line, which currently runs three times a week. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025. The Canadian Press
