A subsidiary of Abu Dhabi ports and related infrastructure developer, AD Ports Group, has announced the launch of a rail logistics solution for the Middle East.
This was marked by the introduction of its first rail shuttle service by Noatum Logistics between Khalifa Port and Fujairah Terminals, AD Ports Group said in a statement.
The shuttle service, utilising the UAE’s national railway, developed and operated by Etihad Rail, is intended to significantly enhance the capacity of the regional logistics network and offer customers more flexibility in transporting large volumes of overland freight from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
The service will run weekly, with each train capable of carrying up to 156 twenty-foot TEUs or 78 FEUs in either direction.
AD Ports Group managing director and CEO, Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, said: "The inaugural journey of the first commercial rail shuttle from Khalifa Port to Fujairah Terminals represents a major milestone for the AD Ports Group as it fulfils our leadership’s vision of strengthening connectivity across the UAE and the wider Middle East.
“As a key element of our multimodal transport network, the National Railway Network – developed and operated by Etihad Rail – not only connects our strategic seaports and inland logistics assets but also plays a crucial role in the long-term economic development of both our nation and the region."
Noatum Logistics MD for the Middle East Region, Qusai Kankazar, added: "We are firm believers in the transformative potential of rail to offer our customers a transport alternative that meets their key priorities, including cost efficiency, scalability, reliability, and environmental sustainability.
“By combining the strengths of both rail and trucking, we are delivering a solution that benefits all stakeholders within our regional logistics network."
Depending on regional demand, Noatum Logistics would have the capacity to increase the number of weekly departures for the Khalifa Port to Fujairah Terminals route and introduce new shuttle services across the broader regional rail network, a statement said.
