History arrived on the platform this morning as the UAE’s first passenger train pulled into Abu Dhabi, marking the start of a new chapter in the country’s transport network.
The inaugural service departed Fujairah at around 5.34am and completed the journey in just under one hour and 45 minutes. As the train rolled into the station at 7.19am, cheers, applause and excitement filled the platform, with crowds gathering to welcome the first passengers and witness this landmark moment firsthand.
Getting to and from the station has been a key focus for Etihad Rail, with the operator planning seamless connections beyond the train journey itself.
“For Etihad Rail, the journey doesn’t just start and end with the train,” Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial at Etihad Rail Mobility, told Gulf News. “We’ve carefully planned how passengers will reach our stations, whether through shuttle buses, existing public bus networks, taxis or e-hailing services.”
She added that every station is connected to its emirate’s public transport network, while the upcoming Dubai station, set to open in September, will be located near a Dubai Metro station, potentially enabling a direct and convenient metro interchange for passengers.
Zainab Husain, Features Writer Khaleej Times
