Printed on
October 1, 2025
Etihad Rail has unveiled its groundbreaking 200 km/h passenger trains at International Rail 2025, marking a big step within the UAE’s efforts to modernize its transport infrastructure. This high-speed community, set to start operations in 2026, will supply quicker, extra environment friendly journey between key cities, decreasing journey instances and offering a sustainable different to highway transport. With the introduction of superior trains and progressive options, Etihad Rail goals to revolutionize the best way individuals transfer throughout the UAE, aligning with the nation’s broader mobility targets.
Etihad Rail has unveiled its forthcoming passenger prepare service on the International Rail 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi, providing the general public a primary glimpse of the state-of-the-art prepare interiors and journey courses. This extremely anticipated high-speed rail community is about to start operations in 2026, connecting main cities throughout the UAE with journey instances as brief as 57 minutes. The venture is a pivotal step within the UAE’s ambition to boost its nationwide mobility infrastructure and supply an environment friendly, sustainable different to highway journey.
On the coronary heart of the exhibition, which is being held on the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Rail launched its progressive passenger prepare fashions, producing important buzz amongst business leaders and transport professionals. This exhibition, beneath the theme “Driving the Way forward for Transport and International Connectivity,” is a serious worldwide occasion drawing over 20 ministerial delegations and key figures from the private and non-private sectors. Greater than 200 corporations from various sectors, together with infrastructure, finance, digital innovation, and sensible mobility, are showcasing their cutting-edge options. The occasion is predicted to draw over 20,000 guests from all over the world, reflecting the rising international curiosity in transformative transport tasks.
One of many standout moments of the occasion was the disclosing of Etihad Rail’s smooth, silver passenger prepare mannequin. The prepare, emblazoned with the distinctive black and crimson Etihad Rail branding, gives a preview of what passengers can count on when companies start in 2026. That includes three distinct journey courses—economic system, household, and top quality—every cabin has been designed with consolation and comfort in thoughts. The economic system class cabin options sensible back-to-back seating in darkish gray, whereas the household cabin is provided with face-to-face seating and a central desk for group interactions. Top quality, providing wider and adjustable seats, ensures a extra luxurious and comfy journey.
The trains are designed to supply an environment friendly and seamless journey expertise. Every cabin is provided with tray tables, overhead baggage compartments, and devoted areas for bigger baggage. The community’s high-speed trains will function at speeds of as much as 200 km/h, making certain swift connections between key cities. For example, the journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai will take simply 57 minutes, whereas journey to Fujairah will take round 100 minutes, and to Ruwais, roughly 70 minutes.
Etihad Rail is dedicated to making a easy and user-friendly expertise for passengers. Automated ticket obstacles will greet passengers on the stations, and whereas on-line ticket bookings are inspired, handy ticket merchandising machines may also be out there at stations. These machines, which have been additionally on show on the exhibition, characteristic a smooth black and gray design and help a number of cost strategies, together with financial institution notes, playing cards, and Apple Pay. The machines will enable passengers to pick their journey class, enter their journey particulars, and specify any particular necessities.
The brand new rail community will function two forms of trains, each designed to accommodate completely different passenger wants. The Chinese language-manufactured CRC cabins could have 365 seats, whereas the Spanish-made CAF cabins will supply 369 seats. Regardless of each sorts supporting the identical class construction, there will probably be slight design variations of their interiors, offering a singular expertise for every journey.
To additional improve the client expertise, Etihad Rail is introducing a particular uniform for its workers. Practice drivers will put on gray and black uniforms, whereas station and prepare hosts will probably be wearing cream and crimson uniforms, making certain a constant and branded service throughout the community.
Whereas the disclosing has generated pleasure in regards to the new service, some particulars stay undisclosed, notably concerning ticket costs and last-mile connectivity choices. Nevertheless, that is unlikely to dampen enthusiasm for the venture, because the service guarantees to revolutionize journey inside the UAE, offering residents and guests with an environment friendly, snug, and environmentally pleasant different to conventional highway transport.
Because the UAE seems to be forward to the completion of the Etihad Rail community, this initiative marks a serious milestone within the nation’s long-term technique to boost its transportation infrastructure. The introduction of high-speed passenger trains is not going to solely enhance connectivity between key cities but additionally contribute to the nation’s broader targets of sustainable mobility and lowered visitors congestion. With the anticipated 2026 launch, Etihad Rail’s new passenger service is poised to rework the best way individuals journey throughout the UAE, providing a glimpse into the way forward for fashionable transport within the area.
