UAE’s Etihad Rail signs MoUs with international railway operators to exchange knowledge, expertise

UAE-based Etihad Rail has signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to exchange knowledge, expertise, and best practices in freight and passenger rail services and operations.

Etihad Rail has signed an MoU with @Renfe_SNCF, the Spanish National Railway company, a leading operator of rail transport for passengers and goods, and runs the largest high-speed rail network in Europe. The MOU which was signed by CEO of Etihad Rail, Shadi Malak, pic.twitter.com/UPX7bHl9eC

— Etihad Rail (@Etihad_Rail) May 20, 2022

The agreements were signed with Renfe, Spain’s national railway operator; High Speed 1, the first high-speed railway in the UK; and GB Railfreight, the British rail freight company. This comes as part of Etihad Rail’s efforts for developing railway services as part of the UAE National Railways Programme, official news agency WAM reported.

We are please to annouce that we have signed an (MoU) with GB Freight Rail, the third largest rail freight company in the UK, and one of the fastest-growing companies in the railway sector, moving 22% of the UK’s rail freight. pic.twitter.com/KO0LZeq0f4

— Etihad Rail (@Etihad_Rail) May 20, 2022

The MoUs were signed during the second day of the 16th Middle East Rail 2022. Spain’s national railway operator, Renfe operates the largest high-speed rail network in Europe and the second largest in the world. It operates about 5,000 trains per day, and transports more than 500 million passengers per year.

CEO of Etihad Rail, Shadi Malak, and CEO of High-Speed 1, Dyan Crowther have signed an MOU agreement at Middle East Rail exhibition and conference, with the aim of exchanging knowledge, expertise, pic.twitter.com/OqdYfPztJT

— Etihad Rail (@Etihad_Rail) May 19, 2022

Meanwhile, High Speed ​​1 is a British company that operates high-speed passenger trains in the UK and has the concession to own, operate and maintain the UK’s only high-speed railway. Moreover, GB Railfreight is the third largest rail freight company in the UK, and one of the fastest-growing companies in the railway sector, moving 22 per cent of the UK’s rail freight, the statement said.

Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, said, “Etihad Rail is committed to achieving the goals of the National Railways Programme and completing the Etihad Rail project on schedule. We are constantly working to sign agreements and build partnerships to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the National Rail Network, as part of Etihad Rail’s diligent efforts for bolstering cooperation and exchanging expertise with some of the global leaders in the railway network, to provide the best world-class services.”

Last month, Etihad Rail confirmed plans to open a 5.5 million sq ft terminal in Dubai Industrial City.

Read: Etihad Rail to build freight terminal at Dubai Industrial City

In February, UAE’s Etihad Rail had signed a Dhs1.99bn financing agreement for passenger transport services with First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Read: Etihad Rail signs Dhs1.99bn financing agreement for passenger services with First Abu Dhabi Bank