Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 57 minutes? Etihad Rail unveils first glimpse of 200 km/h passenger trains, to be operational in…, have facilities…

The Global Rail 2025 exhibition and conference at ADNEC Centre commenced on Tuesday and will continue until October 2.

The United Arab Emirates(UAE) is about to undergo a significant change in its transportation system with plans to implement a modern high-speed rail system that will make traveling across the country a completely new experience. At the Global Rail Conference held in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Rail announced the final design of their high-speed train. The train will operate commercially in 2026 with speeds of up to 200 km/h. It will connect 11 major cities, cutting travel times. The journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai will only take 57 minutes. This project is estimated to add roughly AED 145 billion to the UAE’s GDP over the next 50 years.

What is the top speed of the new passenger trains? When will the trains become operational?

The Global Rail 2025 exhibition and conference at ADNEC Centre commenced on Tuesday and will continue until October 2. The event, which focuses on innovation and collaboration in transport and connectivity, drew the interest of a great deal of international leaders and stakeholders, with over 20 ministerial delegations alongside public and private sector leaders. The event is organized with the theme “Driving the Future of Transport and Global Connectivity.”

Which cities will the high-speed train connect? What features and facilities will the trains offer?

The passenger trains will offer three distinct classes of travel: Economy, Family, and First Class. The Economy cabin features comfortably compact, dark grey, back-to-back seating, which is best suited for everyday commuters traveling to and from jobs and schools.

What features and amenities will the trains offer?

The Family cabin features face-to-face seating with a pleasant, spacious table between, making it an ideal area for friends or family traveling together. The First Class cabin gives passengers the option of wider, adjustable seating for added comfort and a premium experience. All cabins contain foldable tray tables, overhead storage compartments, and spacious storage compartments for larger luggage. Passengers will access these stations through automated ticket gates. While it will be helpful to book tickets online in advance, ticket vending machines will be available for use at the stations.

A ticket machine has a prototype that is black and grey and accepts cash, cards, and Apple Pay. Passengers can approach one of these machines to select their travel class, input departure and arrival stations, and inform the machine of any special requirements.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

1. Etihad Rail announced the final design of their high-speed train.
2. The train will operate commercially in 2026 with speeds of up to 200 km/h.
3. It will connect 11 major cities, cutting travel times.
4. Two types of trains will run on the network: Chinese CRC cabins with 365 seats.

How long will the journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai take?

It is intended that the train trips will be quick. After service is up and running following testing and approval, the Abu Dhabi–Dubai train trip will take just 57 minutes, Fujairah will take about 100 minutes, and Ruwais will take about 70 minutes. Trains are expected to travel up to 200 km/h. Two types of trains will run on the network: Chinese CRC cabins with 365 seats and Spanish CAF cabins with 369 seats.