As part of the UAE’s efforts to improve its freighter network, Etihad Rail, the company responsible for developing and managing the UAE National Rail Network, has teamed up with DHL Global Forwarding to establish a joint venture. The announcement was made during the Middle East Rail 2023 event held in Abu Dhabi. According to a statement released by Etihad Rail on Twitter, the 20-year strategic partnership will allow DHL to utilize the UAE’s rail network to carry out its primary operations within the country.
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As part of the agreement, DHL will adopt rail as one of its major modes of transport to distribute goods throughout the UAE via the railway network, which connects the country’s key industrial centers.
In February, freight services across the UAE were officially launched and then fully operational by April. The network is comprised of over 1,000 wagons and a fleet of 38 locomotives. Freight trains are capable of reaching speeds of up to 120kph and will connect the seven emirates, four major ports, and various logistics centers throughout the country.
The network comprises charging stations located in various key locations, including Ruwais, Abu Dhabi’s Industrial City, Khalifa Port, Dubai Industrial City, Jebel Ali Port, Al Ghail, and Fujairah Port. These locations are crucial hubs for local and regional distribution and logistics services because they have customs warehouses and on-site cargo inspection services.
The Chief Executive of Etihad Rail Freight, Gottfried Eymer, stated that the projected amount of cargo to be transported across the UAE this year is about 20 million tons, with a 2030 target of 60 million tons.
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