What was as soon as a stretch of desert on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi metropolis is being reworked right into a gateway to the nation’s railway future.
Rising from the bottom in Mohamed bin Zayed Metropolis, a brand new Etihad Rail station is nearing completion, and that can usher in an period of passenger rail.
Inside, staff are shifting full steam forward for the launch of passenger providers later this yr that can first hyperlink the capital to Dubai and Fujairah.
From Mohamed bin Zayed Metropolis, passengers will have the ability to journey throughout the nation, reaching Dubai in about an hour and to Fujairah in about 90 minutes – a lift for inter-emirate connectivity, tourism and sustainable journey in a rustic whose inhabitants is surging and roads develop steadily busier.
A glance inside Etihad Rail’s new passenger trains
“The station has been designed to really feel open and intuitive, with spacious concourses, clear signage, snug ready areas and employees available to help,” Azza Al Suwaidi, deputy chief government of Etihad Rail Mobility, instructed The Nationwide.
“Our intention is for Mohamed bin Zayed Metropolis station to indicate how nationwide infrastructure could be designed round actual communities, as a result of when passengers really feel assured right here, they may belief your entire community.”
The Nationwide this week was granted entry to the station on-board a prepare that travelled from Al Faya depot.
Passengers could have the selection of seating lessons together with a enterprise part with meals and beverage choices and Wi-Fi.
Inside, the prepare is glossy and comfy because it hits speeds of round 200kph. Alongside the way in which from Al Faya, the prepare passes farms, factories and rolling sand dunes on its technique to Abu Dhabi.
Then, the motive force activates to the spur line that connects the Abu Dhabi station to the principle line. Because it slowly approaches Mohamed bin Zayed Metropolis it’s clear to see why the placement was picked.
Abu Dhabi is now a metropolis of suburbs, increasing far past the island the place all of it started. And in Mohamed bin Zayed Metropolis, new hospitals, colleges and residential developments have sprung up. It’s also near the sprawling Mussaffah neighbourhood and throughout the street from Dalma Mall.
“Station places at all times start with understanding how folks transfer and the place actual demand exists,” mentioned Ms Al Suwaidi.
“In Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Metropolis performs a central position in every day mobility patterns, whereas additionally supporting future progress and improvement.
“That’s why Mohamed bin Zayed Metropolis station was chosen because the flagship station for the passenger community and the principle place to begin for providers from Abu Dhabi.
“Accessibility, ease of use and proximity with surrounding communities had been key concerns.”
The station in Abu Dhabi is likely one of the anchor stations on the community. And, because the community expands within the years forward, they’ll journey west, taking a prepare to Sila on the border with Saudi Arabia or down via the rolling dunes to Liwa.
As soon as the station is open, passengers can count on meals and beverage retailers, outlets, journey data boards, ready areas and fast entry to the platforms. Contained in the station, the turnstiles, ticket machines and maps are being ready. Round 4 million man hours has gone into its development, Etihad Rail mentioned.
Other than areas primed for future progress, the selection of station places goals to make the very best use of the freight community and, crucially, to not compete with the separate high-speed rail between Abu Dhabi and Dubai introduced final yr that has but to be constructed.
Etihad Rail can be working to attach stations to current and future public transport such because the Dubai Metro and buses, whereas additionally incorporating house for bikes and different modes. Dubai’s station in Jumeirah Golf Estates, for instance, is related to the Metro.
“We’re working very, very carefully with all the public authorities in every emirate,” mentioned Ms Al Suwaidi, resembling on bus routes, making certain taxis can be found when trains arrive and depart and the supply of e-hailing providers.
“And to not overlook additionally the passengers that stay within the neighborhood of the realm in order that they’ll have the ability to stroll their technique to the station or use the micro mobility (resembling e-scooters) to succeed in the station.”
When the primary passengers step on to the platforms at Mohamed bin Zayed Metropolis, they are going to be getting into greater than a brand new station. They are going to be boarding a community designed to reshape every day life, linking suburbs, cities and areas in methods not beforehand attainable.
For Ms Al Suwaidi, a civil engineer who has spent years serving to to deliver the challenge to life, the second carries private and nationwide significance.
“It is a megaproject and each megaproject has its challenges,” she mentioned.
“However we’re within the UAE and we now have this chance. And we’re very lucky to have management assist, and our native authorities working carefully collectively in making this occur. It is a nationwide challenge and I take satisfaction to be a small a part of it.”
