Etihad Rail ICAD, The new hub will be equipped to handle over 20mn tonnes of bulk, containerized, and general cargo annually
Etihad Rail has announced the successful completion of the connection between the railway freight terminal at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD), which is the largest inland freight railway terminal in the country, and the UAE National Rail Network.
The Company completed tracklaying works and conducting successful tests on the new line, which extends from the borders of Saudi Arabia to the port of Fujairah, on the eastern coast, passing through key manufacturing hubs and urban centres.
This achievement comes in line with the goals of the UAE Railway Programme, which is the largest integrated system for transporting goods and passengers across the country. The programme aims to connect the country’s key centres of industry and production, open new trade routes and facilitate population movement.
Stage Two
Upon the completion of Stage Two of the UAE National Rail Network, Etihad Rail will provide logistics solutions from the railway terminal, which is located at the heart of the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi, burgeoning hub of industrial companies in the area.
“The strategic location of the ICAD railway freight terminal will also drive value for all our customers as it is the largest indoor railway freight terminal in the UAE,” commented Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Executive Director, Rail Relations Sector, Etihad Rail.
Etihad Rail is constructing the largest inland railway freight terminal in the UAE in ICAD, spanning just over 2.7mn sqft, the new railway freight terminal at will comprise over 22 buildings and major structures to support operations, processing up to nine trains each day.
It will facilitate the distribution of goods across the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and UAE, where it will connect quarries in the northern emirates to industrial centres in the Musaffah area, in addition to connecting Ruwais, Khalifa Port and the container companies in Dubai within Jebel Ali Port. The containers will be hauled by rail to and from other freight facilities following a road journey to the end-user location.
Logistics hub
The railway freight terminal will act as a logistics hub for heavy industries enabling a seamless distribution of raw materials and machinery for manufacturers, in addition to facilitating better connections to vital trade infrastructure, such as ports. It will also offer customs services, which will make ICAD tenants more competitive.
When fully operational, the ICAD railway freight terminal will foster a more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable transportation capacity, and process over 15mn tonnes of loose raw materials, 1.5 tonnes of general cargo, and around 116,600 20-foot shipping containers annually.
The development of the ICAD railway freight terminal features as a part of Stage Two of the UAE’s national railway network. The historic project extends from Al on the borders of Saudi Arabia to the Emirate of Fujairah, on the eastern coast. Upon completion, Stage Two of the GCC’s railway network will integrate the nation’s ports, manufacturing hubs, and urban centres.
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