Hafeet Rail
Hafeet Rail (Arabic: حفيت للقطارات) is a rail transport company set up to connect the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman by rail. A joint venture of Etihad Rail, Oman Rail, and Mubadala, the railway aims to connect the Etihad Rail network at Al Ain with the port of Sohar.[1] The rail is named after Jebel Hafeet which lies on the border of the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
History
[edit]The founding of the joint venture was initially announced in 2022 as the Oman-Etihad Rail Company.[2][3] On April 23, 2024, the company announced it would be rebranding as Hafeet Rail and had secured shareholder agreement to proceed with construction, including the signing of a $1.5 billion contract for designing and constructing the railway.[1][4]
Preparatory works commenced in May 2024.[5] If implemented, the link would be the first international segment of the long-planned Gulf Railway.
Characteristics
[edit]The new railway will extend for 303 km and the cost of the project is estimated at US$3 billion.[6] Trains will travel at a speed of up to 200 km/h and will have a capacity for up to 400 passengers,[7] covering the distance from Abu Dhabi to Sohar in 100 minutes.[6]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b BATRAK, OLEKSANDR (May 19, 2024). "Construction of the Hafeet Rail railway".
- ^ https://www.railway-technology.com/news/oman-rail-etihad-rail-network/
- ^ https://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/news/etihad-rail-update-hafeet-rail-oman-uae
- ^ "أول قطار يربط بين بلدين خليجيين.. ماذا تعرف عن سكة حديد "حفيت"؟". al-sharq.com. May 13, 2024.
- ^ https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1153733/oman/transport/hafeet-rail-launches-preparatory-work-for-construction-of-omani-emirati-railway-link
- ^ a b Zyl, Gareth van (May 10, 2024). "Construction of $3bn UAE-Oman Hafeet Rail gets green light".
- ^ https://www.timeoutabudhabi.com/news/etihad-rail-update-hafeet-rail-oman-uae