Muscat – Hafeet Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE-Oman Rail Community, has signed two main contracts for the availability of heavy freight locomotives and engineering consultancy companies for the joint railway community.
Hafeet Rail has partnered with the US-based Progress Rail, a Caterpillar firm, to provide 27 state-of-the-art EMD SD70ACS heavy-haul freight locomotives. The locomotives can be custom-designed to face up to the area’s distinctive environmental circumstances whereas adhering to the best international requirements of security, safety, sustainability, and environmental safety. This partnership was introduced through the inaugural International Rail Convention 2024 in Abu Dhabi, in accordance with a report from Emirates Information Company (WAM).
Commenting on the announcement, Ahmad al Musawa al Hashmi, CEO of Hafeet Rail, stated, “This partnership reaffirms our dedication to growing and working a state-of-the-art railway community outfitted with cutting-edge heavy-haul freight locomotives that meet worldwide benchmarks. Moreover, our fleet is tailor-made to adjust to GCC Railway Community requirements, paving the way in which for environment friendly and streamlined freight motion between Oman and the UAE sooner or later.”
John Newman, President and CEO of Progress Rail, stated, “The GCC is geographically, financially, and economically necessary on a world scale, and the UAE has been a driving contributor to the area’s development. We’re proud to have been chosen to work with Hafeet Rail to additional join Oman and the UAE. Progress Rail has developed robust belief and relationships with our enterprise companions within the GCC by way of a long time of funding in merchandise, applied sciences, and native groups.”
The joint rail community’s new fleet boasts high-powered engines designed to haul a various vary of cargo. These trains, every roughly two kilometers lengthy, will transport numerous railcars carrying bulk supplies, containers, petrochemicals, metallic merchandise, and different industrial items.
The 27 locomotives are outfitted with high-performance engines and superior filtration applied sciences, together with pulse and sand filtration programs, in addition to carbon emission discount applied sciences, aligning with Hafeet Rail’s dedication to environmental sustainability and carbon discount.
The signing of the contract for supplying the brand new fleet of locomotives follows the awarding of the primary contracts and the contracts for the programs and expertise for use within the challenge, in addition to the graduation of preparatory work to develop the UAE-Oman railway community. This underscores Hafeet Rail’s dedication to accelerating the completion of the primary rail connection within the GCC.
In the meantime, Hafeet Rail additionally introduced the appointment of SYSTRA, a number one French engineering and consultancy agency specialising in public transport and infrastructure, to supply administrative and engineering consultancy companies for the joint railway community.
Underneath the phrases of the settlement, SYSTRA will ship complete technical help for the joint railway community, together with contract administration, overseeing the efficiency of contractors and suppliers to make sure full compliance with all necessities and requirements, and offering important technical help for managing well being, environmental, security, and safety requirements. Moreover, SYSTRA will handle and monitor the challenge schedule, overview engineering designs, and supervise challenge execution, testing, and commissioning as much as the beginning of operations.
Ahmed al Bulushi, Chief Government Asset Administration at Asyad Group, Oman’s international built-in logistics supplier, and Board Member of Hafeet Rail, stated, “Participating SYSTRA, a globally recognised chief in railway and infrastructure consultancy, as our administrative and engineering guide marks a pivotal milestone for the UAE-Oman Rail Community challenge. This partnership ensures the best ranges of security and safety, in keeping with worldwide requirements. Moreover, we’re devoted to fostering the event of nationwide expertise in each international locations by harnessing SYSTRA’s unparalleled experience and expertise amassed over six a long time throughout eighty international locations. This collaboration will undoubtedly propel our challenge to new heights of excellence and innovation.”
Jean-Christophe Chuniaud, UAE and Europe Vice President at SYSTRA, added, “Our partnership with Hafeet Rail permits us to deliver our international experience to the UAE-Oman Rail Community challenge. We are going to present progressive and sustainable engineering options, drawing on our substantial expertise in railway tasks worldwide. This collaboration goals to fulfill the best worldwide requirements, reaching the challenge’s financial and social targets.”
Hafeet Rail on Wednesday signed financial institution financing agreements price $1.5bn with a gaggle of Omani and Emirati banks, in addition to worldwide banks.
