Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national rail network, has been granted the official safety authorisations to commence commercial operations on Stage One of the network.

Abdulla Bilhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works and chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Transport Authority (FTA) – land and maritime, granted the approval that accredits Etihad Rail’s operations partner Etihad Rail DB to commence commercial operations on the 264-km route covering Habshan, Shah, Mirfa and Ruwais.

The route forms part of the wider UAE network spanning across 1,200 km and the future GCC network.

Stage One will transport sulphur from Shah and Habshan to the port of Ruwais on two daily trains, each transporting 11,000 tonnes. This will dramatically decrease the number of trucks on the road.