Tracklaying on the Package A section of Stage Two of the national railway network has been ceremonially launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, during a visit to Etihad Rail’s railhead in Ruwais.

The 1·5bn dirham Package A covers 139 km of double-track route running west to connect Ruwais with Ghuweifat on the border with Saudi Arabia.

A joint venture of China State Construction Engineering Corp and South Korea’s SK Engineering & Construction began work last year, and construction is now 59% complete. This includes half of the ground preparation works and 79% of the sand and rock excavations.

Sheikh Hamdan said the rail project was important part of the UAE’s preparations for the next 50 years, as a sustainable transport sector would be a major contributor to the growth of the national economy.

Dring his visit he met Emirati employees working on the project, including the first graduates from Etihad Rail’s railway diploma programme, and stressed the importance of training nationals to lead the evolution of the rail sector.