Etihad Rail’s marine bridge: Key numbers of the landmark project

Etihad Rail, the UAE’s national rail network has made great strides since the project’s inception in 2016.

It connects the country’s ports to logistics hubs as it transports a range of goods and cargo across the varied landscape.

Etihad Rail freight network

The network spanning 1,200 kilometres links the country’s seven emirates from the border with Saudi Arabia at Ghuwaifat, connecting the emirates via Abu Dhabi, KIZAD, Khalifa Port, Jebel Ali Port, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah and then to Fujairah on the UAE’s east coast.

This year saw the launch of the freight services as the network opened for business. The freight network is expected to transport about 20 million tonnes of cargo across the UAE in 2023 with a stated goal of ramping up the capacity to 60 million tonnes a year by 2030. The freight trains comprise of 1,082 wagons and can travel up to 120 kilometres per hour.

Additionally, Etihad Rail’s new fleet will also contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent to 80 per cent as it takes lorries off streets to consolidate the transport of goods.

Etihad Rail waterfront bridge

The national railway network passes through several geographical terrains. Its construction included 593 bridges and crossings, and nine tunnels with a length of 6.5km. It took 120-million cubic metres of excavation work to complete.

As part of the expansive network, Etihad Rail moves across the UAE’s first marine bridge that connects the Arabian Gulf to Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port on the mainland.

The waterfront or marine bridge is one of the network’s most complex projects. It was constructed with more than 4,000 tonnes of steel, 18,300 cubic metres of concrete that put together 100 beams to build the kilometre-long bridge.

A team of 320 employees put in more than a million working hours to construct it, as per Etihad Rail. A video published by Etihad Rail showcases the UAE’s first marine railway bridge which is 1 kilometre long and boasts a capacity of 10 million containers each year.

The #EtihadRail route in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is distinguished for its connection to the main ports and key industrial centers in the country, such as Khalifa Port, Khalifa Industrial Zone (Kizad), and Abu Dhabi Industrial City (ICAD), all the way to Al Dhafra Region. This… pic.twitter.com/xkRvsDTCyR

— Etihad Rail (@Etihad_Rail) July 3, 2023

Etihad Rail fleet

Etihad Rail fleet meets the highest international standards. The rail company has utilised locomotives from the US’ Electro-Motive Diesel, while the wagons are supplied by China’s CSR Corporation.

Etihad Rail’s new fleet was designed specifically to withstand the geographic, climate conditions, and the high temperatures and humidity levels in the GCC region.

The fleet comprises of brand-new diesel and electricity-operated locomotives, which have a combined power of 4,600 BHP, making it one of the most powerful engines in the Middle East.

The locomotives are equipped with advanced on-board technologies and systems like the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2, the most advanced signalling system of its kind.

Each locomotive can pull 100 wagons, which is equivalent to the capacity of 300 trucks. The volume of goods transported by these trains is equivalent to 5,600 daily truck trips.

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