Etihad Rail Passenger Service to Begin on June 30th

Passenger services on Etihad Rail are set to begin in phases, with an introductory operational stage launching on June 30th between the Mohammed bin Zayed City Passenger Train Station in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

According to the operator, the full network's official launch is scheduled for September 30th, when stations in Dubai and Al Dhaid come online. Additional stations in Al Dhafra are expected to open on December 30th.

The first phase of the passenger network will comprise 11 stations spanning all seven emirates. Locations include Mohammed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, University City in Sharjah and Al Hilal in Fujairah, alongside Al Faya, Al Dhaid and five stations across Al Dhafra: Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Al Mirfa, Madinat Zayed and Mezairaa.

In Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority is preparing feeder bus and taxi services to provide last-mile connections to the main Etihad Rail station.

Scheduled journey times on the network are expected to include approximately 50 minutes between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and between Dubai and Fujairah, while the journey from Abu Dhabi to Al Ruwais is expected to take around one hour and 10 minutes. During the introductory phase, the trip between Mohammed bin Zayed City and Fujairah is expected to take approximately one hour and 45 minutes.

The trains have been designed to operate at speeds of up to 200 km/h, with the operator targeting annual ridership of 36 million passengers by 2030.

Each train will accommodate around 400 passengers across economy, family and first-class cabins. Onboard amenities will include infotainment systems, charging ports, food and beverage services, spacious seating and advanced air-conditioning.