E-Paper
Sign In
On board Etihad Rail: A ride from Fujairah through stunning valleys, mountain tunnels
Each train is divided into two classes — 'Comfort' and 'Premium' — with dedicated spaces to store luggage, retractable hooks and charging ports at seats
- PUBLISHED: Tue 19 May 2026, 1:37 PM UPDATED: Tue 19 May 2026, 6:17 PM
Settling into a comfortable seat and watching the Hajar mountains go by is something UAE residents have dreamt of doing for a long time. On Tuesday, I got a chance to do that aboard an Etihad Rail passenger train during an exclusive press tour.
At some points, the mountains felt so close that I felt like I could reach out and touch the gray stones. At others, I watched the mountain peaks rolling by me with the city in the background. The trip on the train put into perspective what every Etihad Rail spokesperson had described — it was truly one of the most spectacular experiences.
Recommended For You
Boarding the train from the Fujairah station — the first completed passenger station of the network — I headed to the 'Comfort' section. Each train is divided into two classes — 'Comfort' and 'Premium'. A sliding door separated each compartment of the train. Right next to the sliding door was space for large luggage items. There is an overhead luggage space in all the carriages as well.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
As the doors to the train close, there are announcements in Arabic and English similar to the ones on the Dubai Metro. Once the train started moving, travelers are reminded that the vehicle can go up to speeds of 200kmph and that passengers should sit down.
Despite the speed, the experience inside the train is one of calm and quiet. The wall of the carriage is textured and has a golden color with lit up signs of the Etihad Rail on it. Outside, each carriage bears a number and has the seat numbers clearly indicated on it.
Seats with charging ports, retractable hooks
With dark grey seas, Etihad Rail logos and moveable hand rests, the seats were comfortably designed. Each seat, as Khaleej Times reported earlier, has charging ports and power outlets next to it. There are retractable hooks to hang jackets or bags on.
The seats were arranged in clusters of four with tray tables in between them. At either end of the carriage, there are two seats tucked behind a cluster of four. There are multiple toilets on the train for passengers.
The Premium section has wider, reclining seats with a retractable tray table in front of them. At the center of the carriage, there are cluster seats with tray tables between them. There are reserved seats for pregnant and the elderly. The windows are wide with pulldown blinds if it is too sunny.
Between the carriages, there is an area for the rail staff to prepare refreshments. Passengers will be able to order from a range of beverages and light bites on board the train.
Emergency buttons, safety messages
Safety is one of the key features of the train ride. At each entrance of the train, there are clearly indicated levers and buttons to use in case of emergencies. There are other cautionary messages at the entrance asking passengers to be careful about their hands and steps.
Each carriage has an emergency exit window with instructions on how to use it, if there is a need. As the train passed through tunnels on its route, each one has clearly marked safety messages.
Adhraa Almansoori, Executive Director of Commercial, at Etihad Rail said that the focus is firmly on readiness. “Right now, everybody is working on making sure that the operations readiness is complete. The top priority is safety and reliability of the service,” she said.
