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Etihad Rail has recently completed the connection between a new rail freight terminal at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD) – the largest inland freight railway terminal in the country – and the UAE National Rail Network. The company finished track-laying works and conducting successful tests on the new line, which extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centres. Upon completion of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network, Etihad Rail will provide logistics solutions from the new rail terminal.
Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Executive Director at Etihad Rail, said: “Connecting the freight terminal at ICAD with our main line ensures our readiness to start providing our clients with logistics solutions by linking Abu Dhabi with various industrial centres and import and export points. This milestone brings us closer to achieving our goal of providing an integrated transport system that connects the industrial and manufacturing centres with freight terminals and ports across the emirates.”
Etihad Rail says it is actively encouraging companies to restructure their logistical operations and opt for rail logistics solutions. This is exemplified by trade agreements with some of the biggest companies in the UAE, including Stevin Rock, Western Bainoona and Al Ghurair Iron & Steel. Mohammed Al Marzouqi added, “Our network will have a positive impact on end users, as it will contribute to reducing trucks on roads and bring down their maintenance costs. It will further drive the sustainable development that we are witnessing across the UAE, by enabling a positive socioeconomic impact on industry, commerce, the environment, and more.”
The new rail freight terminal at ICAD covers just over 2.7 million ft2 and will be capable of processing up to nine trains a day, connecting quarries in the northern emirates to industrial centres in the Musaffah area, in addition to serving the ports of Ruwais, Khalifa and Jebel Ali. When fully operational, the ICAD railway freight terminal will be able to handle over 15 million tonnes of loose raw materials, 1.5 tonnes of general cargo, and around 116,600 TEU of containers annually.
