Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has concluded the first edition of the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference (Global Rail) 2024 on a successful note sealing 10 major agreements with international companies specialising in railways, transport, and infrastructure, including Hitachi, Presight AI Technologies as well as Indian groups L&T and RITES.

The UAE railway network developer signed an MoU with Presight AI, a leading artificial intelligence and big data analytics company, to explore and implement cutting-edge digital solutions across its operations.

Its deal was with L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS), a global engineering services company based in India, aimed at exploring the joint establishment and operation of a National Mobility Innovation Center in Abu Dhabi to accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge physical and digital solutions for a more sustainable, inclusive, and intelligent transportation ecosystem.

With RITES, a leading Indian public sector enterprise specialising in transportation and infrastructure, it will explore potential synergies and collaboration, unlocking opportunities in railway and infrastructure development in the UAE and wider region.

This includes the supply and leasing of rolling stock, as well as consultancy and project management for railway development, it added.

A major agreement was signed with Korea National Railway (KNR) and Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) aimed at fostering a multifaceted collaboration encompassing technical exchanges, knowledge sharing, and joint efforts in railway construction, project management, operations, facility maintenance, and rolling stock, said Etihad Rail in a statement.

This was followed by an MoU with Hitachi Rail to explore collaboration on enhancing communication systems and cybersecurity for future passenger transport services via the UAE’s national rail network. Hitachi Rail will equip Etihad Rail’s future passenger stations with advanced communication systems to improve station management.