By KAYODE ADEBIYI

A national passenger rail network has come into operation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

TV BRICS, via Emirates News Agency, reported that the first journey departed from the emirate of Fujairah to the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The arrival of the first train from Fujairah station at Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi was marked by celebratory events.

Reports say it highlighted the importance of this new phase in the development of the UAE’s transport network.

Shortly before the launch, it was reported that more than 5,000 passengers had booked train tickets within the first two days of bookings opening.

A dedicated website or app can be used to purchase tickets and check routes.

Many of the passengers on the inaugural journey praised the level of service, which combines speed, comfort and reliability.

Trains between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi will travel at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour and carry up to 400 passengers.

The journey time will be 1 hour 45 minutes.

Plans are in place to open new railway stations and expand the passenger transport network by the end of this year.

From Sept. 30 passenger rail services will operate between Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid (Emirate of Sharjah) and Fujairah.

In December, the route network will be extended to stations in the Al Dhafra region (Emirate of Abu Dhabi), and in March 2027 to Sharjah.

The project aims to connect all the emirates via a rail transport network, acting as a catalyst for greater economic and social integration.

It is estimated that the project will contribute 39.4 billion dollars to the country’s GDP over the next 50 years.

The high-speed rail system, which runs entirely on electricity, is fully in line with the UAE’s programme to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. (NAN)

•Staff members run tests on a passenger train during trial operations of the United Arab Emirates’ first passenger railway, Etihad Rail, in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, June 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Wen Xinnian)

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