Abu Dhabi sees inaugural passenger train service from Fujairah. The first of its kind in the UAE, it carried enthusiastic travelers who watched Thursday’s sunrise as they sped across the desert on brand-new upholstery.
Gunjan Chaurasia, 42, drove over 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Dubai to be among the first passengers. In a country with flashy infrastructure like the Burj Khalifa and the world’s busiest airport in Dubai, the slow arrival of passenger trains is notable.
The UAE has plans for flying taxis and high-speed underground transport network in Dubai. Yet, the humble passenger train remains unusual in the Gulf. The UAE’s Etihad Rail is just the second intercity service after Saudi Arabia.
A rail network linking the Gulf countries was announced nearly 20 years ago but has yet to become reality due to regional rivalries among the region’s rulers.
Rawdha from Fujairah, which has a port and small beach resorts on the UAE’s eastern Gulf of Oman coast, said she is excited about the possibilities. The journey used to be very long before now; Abu Dhabi and other areas are much closer.
The diesel-powered train has a maximum speed of 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour, with stations remaining a drive away from city centers. In a country of cheap petrol and abundant highways, the railway is not a clear alternative to cars.
Etihad Rail is working on a high-speed electric train project linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai, scheduled for service in a few years. The national network is presented as a way to more closely unite the UAE’s seven emirates, some overlooked compared to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Athraa Al Mansoori, executive director for commercial and support at Etihad Rail Mobility, says this historic moment will transform how cities are designed and residents get around. Economic benefits could top 90 billion dirhams ($24.5 billion) over the next 50 years.
Previously used only for freight transport during the Middle East war, the train lines were meant to be part of a regional network more than 2,000 kilometers long connecting Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. Only the section linking the UAE to Sohar in northern Oman is under construction.