Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement on Wednesday in the field of cooperation between Oman Railways and Etihad Rail.
With investments amounting to about RO1.160 billion (USD$3 billion), Oman Rail and Etihad Rail will be establishing a joint company to implement and operate a railway network linking Sohar Port with the UAE national railway network.
The railway network route between Suhar and Abu Dhabi (303km) will adopt the highest international safety, and environmental standards to provide safe and fast services for passenger and freight transport.
Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology said the railway project linking the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates is one of the most prominent common goals between the two brotherly countries. He also clarified that the project will contribute to achieving sustainable development at all economic and social levels, and will provide noticeable enhancement for inter-transportation, aimed at boosting trade exchange and economic growth between the two brotherly countries.
"We expect work on the railway project to continue for seven years until the time of its inauguration and the first meeting of the Board of Directors will be held in October.
The passenger train speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour and travels the distance between Suhar and Abu Dhabi in 100 minutes and 47 minutes between Suhar and Al Ain, while the speed of freight trains will have a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.
The train will facilitate the movement of goods and passengers between the two countries and when completed it will be the first direct Gulf link between neighboring countries.
The trains will have a capacity to ferry 12,000 passengers per day and 250,000 containers at the start of the line's operation.
Engineer Abdul Rahman bin Salem al Hatmi, CEO of the Asyad Group, says that the joint railway project between the two brotherly countries will yield strategic, economic, and social benefits, such as supporting and diversifying the national economy, and linking the population and industrial centers between the two countries, Developing the infrastructure, strengthening social and family cohesion, strengthening and regulating the logistics sector, and raising.
Eng. Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail: The agreement lays out a strategic roadmap for a sustainable project that will contribute to strengthening the solid relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman. It plays a pivotal role in facilitating trade at the local and regional levels by linking the UAE railway network to Suhar Port.
Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology said the railway project linking the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates is one of the most prominent common goals between the two brotherly countries. He also clarified that the project will contribute to achieving sustainable development at all economic and social levels, and will provide noticeable enhancement for inter-transportation, aimed at boosting trade exchange and economic growth between the two brotherly countries.
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