ETIHAD Rail confirmed on January 26 that it has suspended tendering for the construction of the second phase of the UAE's national railway network in a move which is likely to deal a significant blow to the GCC Railway project.

ETIHAD Rail was granted final safety authorisation on December 10 by the United Arab Emirates Federal Transport Authority (FTA) for the 264km Shah - Habshan - Ruwais line, clearing the way for the start of commercial operations on the first phase of the country's national railway network.

THE United Arab Emirates Federal Transport Authority (FTA) granted Etihad Rail final safety authorisation on December 10 for the 264km Shah - Habshan - Ruwais line, clearing the way for the start of commercial operations on the first phase of the country's national railway network.

PHASE 1 of Etihad Rail has carried more than 2 million tonnes of sulphur during the first year of trial operation, and full commercial operation of the 264km line linking Shah and Habshan with the port of Ruwais is expected to start soon.

RATP Group subsidiary RATP Dev has signed an agreement with Zain Capital, which is part of the Lakhraim Business Group, to establish a joint venture that will target some of the United Arab Emirates' largest transport and urban planning projects.

THE government of Dubai has approved the Route 2020 project, which encompasses a 15km, seven station extension of the metro Red Line from Nakheel Harbour and Tower station to the site of Expo 2020.

DETAILED engineering and design for the next sections of the 2177km Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail network will be completed this year, says Mr Ramiz Al-Assar, senior transport specialist for the Middle East and North Africa with the World Bank's Sustainable Development Department.

DUBAI Roads and Transport Authority has signed a five-year service level agreement with Thales to provide maintenance support services for the city's 75km driverless metro network.

The GCC member states are pushing ahead with plans to develop an integrated railway network between Oman and Kuwait. Kevin Smith reports from the GCC Metro and Rail conference in Muscat where the leading lights in the GCC railway industry gathered to discuss progress and the challenges facing this mammoth project.

ETIHAD Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE's national railway network, has officially handed over the operations control centre in Mirfa to Etihad Rail DB, a joint venture between Etihad Rail and DB Schenker.