Hitachi Rail to deliver mobility-as-a-service solution for Etihad Rail

Solution will cover 900 km of railway infrastructure across the UAE

Hitachi Rail will deliver its advanced Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solution for Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Railway Network, which spans 900 km from Ghuweifat, on the border with the Saudi Arabia, to Fujairah. The integrated digital solution will provide a single platform for passengers to access Etihad Rail’s mobility services, once operational, from booking tickets to managing their entire journeys and payment.

The Etihad Rail Sales and Distribution System project aims to establish sustainable and efficient services of freight and passenger transportation, connecting urban and rural areas of the Emirates. It has a multi-phase approach including an advanced booking system that integrates local ticket sales systems and ride-hailing services.

This project paves the way for a nationwide MaaS solution, across long distance and urban transportation services. Passengers will be able to travel easily between the emirates via rail and shared mobility services for first and last mile connections. As a result, Etihad Rail is projected to transport up to 36.5 million passengers annually by 2030.

As the prime contractor, Hitachi Rail has assembled a team of partners to leverage their specialized expertise. As the master integrator, leveraging its own and partners’ open architecture APIs, Hitachi Rail will deliver a best-in-class project solution. This will be fully integrated with the central piece of passenger Account Management, the reservation and inventory management system, the journey planner and passengers- facing mobile application and web portal.

Once operational, Etihad Rail’s passenger services will connect 11 cities and regions in the UAE. The project also stands-out as an integral part of the planned Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) railway network.

Commenting on the announcement, Jean-Marc Reynaud, Hitachi Rail RCS Vice-President, said: “We are proud to deliver our advanced Mobility-as-a-Service solution for Etihad Rail. This project will contribute to vital mobility objectives in the UAE and the region, providing a seamless multi-modal transport platform and enhancing the passenger experience for millions of passengers every day.”

Lotfi Amar, Hitachi Rail UAE CEO, said: “Hitachi Rail is fully committed to deliver the Sales and Distribution project and fully meet Etihad Rail vision to deliver a cutting-edge ticketing system to main line riders. Our presence in the Country and the Region in Revenue Collection Business makes us the right choice to deliver excellence. Our digital solution and innovations and footprint in the region will pave the way to strong partnership with Etihad Rail for creative and useful mobility initiatives.”

Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, said: "The implementation of Hitachi Rail's MaaS solution is a transformative step forward for Etihad Rail and the UAE. This initiative not only enhances connectivity across our nation but also supports our vision for sustainable and efficient transportation. By integrating advanced digital solutions, we are making travel more accessible and convenient for millions, while reinforcing our commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility."

ENDS

For more information from Hitachi Rail, please contact:

Veronique Pinto at veronique.pinto@urbanandmainlines.com or Ed Brown at ed.brown@hitachirail.com

Notes to Editors

The other partners in the project include:

• Turnit, an expert in back-office operations, reservation management, and inventory control will provide a seamless reservation and inventory management system,
• AKKODIS will develop Etihad Rail's web portal, mobile app, and agent tool.

The Etihad Rail Sales and Distribution System back-office has been contracted as a Software-As-A-Service (SaaS) model. Options to deliver passengers gates and Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) will be exercised in the contract to guarantee an excellent passenger experience.