Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national rail network, has been awarded a multi-billion dollar design and construction contract for the civil engineering and station package for the High Speed Rail (HSR) line between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, according to a MEED post on LinkedIn.
The construction contract for the Abu Dhabi side of the railway was awarded to a consortium comprising Abu Dhabi’s National Project Construction (NPC), Trojan Tunnel, Turkiye’s Carillon and Beijing-based China National Construction Engineering Corporation.
Another contract, involving construction of the Dubai side of the railway, was awarded to a consortium consisting of India’s Larsen & Toubro, Beijing-based China Harbor Engineering Company, local firm Wade Adams and MEED Post SAOD.
MEED understands that the overall plan is worth approximately $6.5 billion.
Based in the US, Jacobs is a designer at NPC Group. French engineering firm Egis and Singapore’s Surbana Jurong are the architects of the L&T-led consortium.
TradeArabia previously reported that a new high-speed railway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi will reduce travel time between the two emirates to just 30 minutes.
The proposed high-speed rail, which would run at 350km/h, would be a major step forward in improving connectivity and sustainability.
Officials earlier said the high-speed rail network linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai would not only facilitate quick and convenient travel, but also act as a catalyst for stronger economic and social integration.
He added that the network includes six strategically located stations on Abu Dhabi’s Reem Island, Saadiyat Island and Yas Island, as well as stations near Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai’s Jadaf area.
He further elaborated that the high-speed rail system, which operates entirely on electricity, seamlessly aligns with the UAE’s national commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
According to Etihad Rail, this is in addition to regular rail passenger train services that will be rolled out in 2026. It can travel at 200km/h and accommodate up to 400 passengers. It will run on the same rails as freight trains, and will have four stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah.
The rail passenger service connects the United Arab Emirates with 11 cities and regions, from Al Sila to Fujairah. The passenger trains will carry 400 passengers per train.
The first four regular train stations are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.
The train travel time is as follows:
* Abu Dhabi – Dubai: 57 minutes
* Abu Dhabi – Ruwai: 70 minutes
* Abu Dhabi – Fujairah: 105 minutes
By 2030, passenger numbers are expected to reach more than 36.5 million passengers per year.
Additionally, the first four passenger rail stations will be strategically integrated with existing subway and bus networks to provide a seamless and comprehensive intermodal transportation experience.
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