Emirates News Agency – Etihad Rail is moving to self-employment

ABU DHABI, 26th September, 2019 (WAM) — Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has announced the completion of its knowledge transfer program in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn, the largest operator of trains and railways in Europe. This is before the appointed time.

This came on the sidelines of InnoTrans 2022, the world’s leading trade fair for transportation technologies, which was held in the German capital, Berlin, from 20-23 September.

The partnership between the two parties witnessed the establishment of the joint Etihad Rail DB Company in 2013, to exchange experiences and transfer knowledge in the field of railway operations, operations control centers, maintenance of railcars and the development of operating rules and systems, which played a fundamental role in the operational operations of the national railway network in the UAE.

Deutsche Bahn’s support and expertise contributed to achieving many achievements that enabled Etihad Rail to establish a vital national sector through the development of the “Etihad Train” project, the first railway network in the UAE. Deutsche Ban also provided Etihad Rail, in addition to its knowledge transfer services, with the necessary guidance and guidance on health, safety, environment and quality requirements, as well as the development of the necessary operational safety program, which eventually resulted in Etihad Rail DB obtaining accreditation, thus becoming the first operator Certified Heavy Rail in the United Arab Emirates.

Shadi Malek, CEO of Etihad Rail, said: “We are concluding the knowledge transfer program that we started with our partners at Deutsche Bahn nearly a decade ago, ahead of schedule, and in line with international best practices. Through the program, we benefited from the company’s knowledge and experience, which undoubtedly helped us achieve our goal of becoming one of the most prominent companies in the railway sector around the world, and we look forward to working together in the future to achieve more common successes between us.”

For his part, Niko Warbanov, CEO of Deutsche Bahn Engineering and Consulting Services, said: “We are proud of our successful long-term partnership with Etihad Rail, through which we have achieved the highest levels of customer satisfaction in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), as well as contributing to the Realizing Etihad Rail’s endeavors to preserve the environment by significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and fulfilling our commitments to transfer knowledge in a sustainable manner to our partners in Etihad Rail in a manner that serves the national railway project in the UAE.”

Etihad Rail DB has been responsible for operating the first phase of the national railway network in the UAE since 2016, according to the highest standards of quality, safety, efficiency and customer satisfaction, which brings many advantages to its operation and to the UAE.

Deutsche Bahn has supported Etihad Rail since the start of operations of the first phase of the UAE’s national railway network, by transporting more than 44 million tons of granulated sulfur using 4,400 trains, achieving a zero-time accident record and exceptional accuracy rates that ensure service reliability. Accordingly, Etihad Rail has contributed to reducing more than 370,000 tons of carbon emissions and 2.68 million truck trips, in a move that supports the UAE’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

It is worth noting that Etihad Rail DB has operated 382 trains since the beginning of this year and transported 3,685,000 tons of granulated sulfur with an accuracy rate of 98.4%, which reflects the distinguished level it achieved in terms of customer satisfaction.

WAM/ Ahmed Al Nuaimi/ Muhammad Nabil/ Zakaria Mohieldin

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