The first batches of Etihad Rail’s new fleet of locomotives and wagons have arrived in the UAE.
Once construction is completed, the new fleet will operate across the entire UAE National Rail Network, increasing its capacity to more than 60 million tonnes of goods per year.
The trains will also contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 70-80%.
The fleet has been designed specifically with the geography of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in mind. The vehicles can withstand the region’s high temperatures and humidity levels, ensuring the best levels of performance, efficiency and sustainability.
In order to support its expanding network, Etihad Rail is increasing its fleet of heavy freight locomotives to 45 heavy transport locomotives: equivalent to 6 times its current fleet.
Manufactured and supplied by Progress Rail, the EMD SD70 electro-motive diesel locomotives each provide 4,600 brake horsepower. With one of the most powerful engines in the Middle East, they can each pull 100 wagons – equivalent in capacity to 300 trucks.
The locomotives are equipped with a pulse sand filtering system to ensure they operate at high effectiveness and efficiency when passing through desert regions. They also feature advanced on-board technologies and systems such as ETCS Level 2.
In addition, Etihad Rail is tripling its fleet of multi-purpose wagons to over 1,000.
Manufactured and supplied by CRRC Group, these wagons are equipped with the latest braking, signalling, control, communication and safety systems.
The variety of wagons will enable greater flexibility and capability in transporting goods of various sizes, including petrochemicals, raw steel and its products, limestone, cement, building materials, industrial and household waste, aluminum, food and assorted goods.
This will help reduce transportation costs by 30% and increase logistic efficiency. It will also reduce road congestion caused by trucks.
The fleet’s arrival in the Emirates was announced at a special event in Al Mirfa , Abu Dhabi, attended by His Excellency Shadi Malak, Chief Executive Officer at Etihad Rail; Marty Haycraft, President and CEO at Progress Rail; and Henry Pang, Executive Director – MENA at CRRC.
The fleet will be stored in this location until construction of the network is completed.
“The arrival of the new fleet of locomotives and wagons to the UAE on schedule reflects the level of the achievements that the Etihad Rail project is realising in the development of the UAE National Railway Network.
“We made sure that the company’s new fleet is among the most modern in the region and the world, providing the highest safety criteria in terms of design, ensuring the best specifications for sustainability and environmental protection, and integrating the latest technologies for train operation and monitoring.
“We also ensured that the fleet suits the local geography and climate in the UAE and the region and meets current and future needs of Etihad Rail’s clients, including industrial companies, shipping companies, building materials suppliers, quarriers and more.”
