Etihad Rail, the United Arab Emirates' national railway company, is advancing its ambitious 1,200km network project with the addition of new high-speed trains equipped with advanced climate control systems.

The project aims to reduce road traffic emissions promote trade and social development across the GCC countries, and increase efficiencies in commuting.

The $11bn railway infrastructure, completed in February 2023, connects the UAE from the Saudi border to Fujairah on the Indian Ocean coast. It forms a crucial part of the $100bn Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail programme, linking the UAE with neighbouring countries.

As part of the development, Liebherr Transportation Systems (China) Co., Ltd. has been commissioned to supply and service heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) units for three of Etihad Rail's high-speed trains.

Geopolitical tensions remain high across the region with a push by regional governments looking at alternatives to Sea traffic to move goods and people around. Sea routes connecting East and West have not seemed so insecure for centuries. Land routes that connect Asia and Europe are suddenly at a premium, and a broader high-speed rail network is part of the broader mix.

These trains will operate on the UAE's first national rail network, connecting 11 cities and locations across the country.

The HVAC systems, designed and manufactured by Liebherr, have been installed by Chinese rolling stock manufacturer CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co., Ltd.

These units are crucial for maintaining passenger comfort in the UAE's challenging climate, where temperatures can soar to 60°C with occasional sand gusts.

Liebherr's advanced HVAC systems are engineered to maintain temperatures below 23°C inside the train saloons, even at full passenger capacity.

The Etihad Rail network, which stretches across the UAE and connects with Saudi Arabia and Oman, is expected to serve approximately 16mn passengers and transport 50mn tonnes of freight annually.

The rail network includes 593 bridges and crossings, along with nine tunnels totalling 6.5km in length.

It significantly reduces travel times between major UAE cities, with journeys from Abu Dhabi to Dubai taking just 50 minutes.

Etihad Rail operates a fleet of heavy transport locomotives and multi-purpose wagons, including SD70ACS electro-motive diesel locomotives capable of pulling 100 wagons or 5,000 tonnes each.

The passenger trains, operating at speeds of up to 200km/h, have a capacity of 400 passengers per train.

The project has involved numerous international contractors and suppliers, with financing partly secured through a Dh1.99bn ($541.7mn) agreement with First Abu Dhabi Bank for developing passenger transport services.