Rail operator Etihad Rail has welcomed the first batches of rolling stock fleet as part of development of the UAE’s new National Rail Network. The locomotives and wagons are part of a fleet expansion that will see the national fleet increase six-fold, growing to 45 heavy transport locomotives in total, alongside development of a 1,200-kilometre network extending, from the border of Saudi Arabia to the border of Oman.

“We made sure that the company’s new fleet is among the most modern in the region and the world,” Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of Rail Relations Sector at Etihad Rail said. “We also ensured that the fleet suits the local geography and climate in the UAE and the region and meets current and future needs of Etihad Rail’s clients, including industrial companies, shipping companies, building materials suppliers, quarriers, and more.”

Over 60 million tonnes per year

New deliveries include new EMD electro-motive diesel locomotives which will be manufactured and supplied by US firm Progress Rail, a subsidiary of construction machinery and equipment company Caterpillar.

“Our diesel-electric EMD SD70 locomotives meet the highest global standards,” Marty Haycraft, CEO of Progress Rail, said. “Etihad Rail’s new fleet is a great example of what our customers have come to expect from our advanced locomotives, which are designed to perform in extreme conditions.”

The new SD70 trains are designed to withstand harsh operating conditions in the GCC region, with new technology delivering strong performance levels despite high temperatures and humidity levels.

“The fleet is set to elevate the transport and logistical services system in the UAE, solidifying the country’s position in the logistics sector on a regional and international level. It will increase the capacity of the UAE National Rail Network to more than 60 million tonnes of goods per year,” a spokesperson for Etihad Rail commented.

New technologies

Each of the new SD70 locomotives, will deliver 4,600 BHP and features advanced filtering technology, such as a pulse sand filtering system which removes even fine sand from the intake flow. Utilising two-stage active air filtration, this system filters fine grains and particulates from the inflow air, ensuing that the engine, traction alternator, traction motors, electrical locker and compressed air system are not damaged. Particles are then discharged through a periodic, or pulsed air, blow down system.

The locomotives also feature advanced sealing systems around the locomotive cab, carbody, battery box and sub-base compartment doors to prevent sand infiltration, while gear cases are equipped with a special labyrinth sealing system to protect delicate traction motor gearing.

New wagons

The fleet expansion will also see the addition of hundreds of new multi-purpose wagons, with the total number of wagons trebling to more than 1,000. Manufacturing and supply of the new wagons will be handled by Chinese engineering firm CRRC Group. The first batches of locomotives and wagons arrived in the UAE via the ports of Zayed and Al Musaffah and were unveiled at a ceremony at Al Mirfa city in the Al Dhafrah region in Abu Dhabi.

“Upon completion and becoming fully operational, the network will contribute to revitalising and bolstering economic growth in the UAE, particularly during the next 50 years, by providing reliable and safe freight services with high efficiency,” Al Marzouqi added. The new locomotives and wagons will now be stored at Etihad Rail’s facilities in Al Mirfa until construction is complete on the UAE National Railway Network.