The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and the National Transport Agency (NTA) will regulate the issuance of safety permits to Etihad Rail Company for operating the train on the federal rail network to be operated in the UAE.

This will include the regulation the issuance of safety permits in respect of Etihad Rail as regards the construction and operation of Phase I of Etihad Rail stretching from Shah and Habshan up to Al Ruwais.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the RTA by Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA, and on behalf of the NTA by Ibrahim Abdulla Al Wahabi, director general of the NTA.

According to the MoU, the two parties will and assessing the documents submitted by Etihad Rail Company as well as Etihad Rail DB Company; which caters to the operation and maintenance of the railways, and accordingly issuing safety permits.

The MoU also provides for carrying out activities in the post safety permit issuance stage to verify the discharge of safety obligations, monitor the safety performance, carry out annual safety regulation audit, and investigate accidents when necessary.

A joint work team of the NTA, RTA and the Department of Transport (DoT) in Abu Dhabi will cater to those works prior to the issuance of the safety permit.

Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, was delighted with the signing of the MoU; which constitutes a highlight in the drive to develop local and federal rail regulations in the UAE with the aim of supporting the development of a national rail transport system, adding that the RTA would harness all its expertise for the service of federal and local entities.

“The RTA has a good experience in this field gathered during the construction of the Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram projects, besides having exposure to the best international expertise & practices in the rail industry, and the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding with the UK Rail Regulation Office and Lloyds among others,” said Al Tayer.

“The organizational chart of the RTA has an independent safety department affiliated to the Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector named Safety, Risk Regulation & Planning Department, to handle tasks related to planning, policies, licensing & regulation, investigating accidents, auditing and monitoring. The RTA has also established units to cater to quality, health, safety and environment in various agencies and sectors of the RTA,” explained Al Tayer.

“Experiences gained by the RTA over the past years contributed to boosting the profile of Dubai as a leading and experienced entity at the regional level in this specialist field. The partnership and cooperative relationships established by the RTA with international agencies in this field contributed to assessing and certifying the requisites of safety in Jumeirah rail system (The Palm Monorail) within a short period of time,” he added.

Al Wahabi said: “The signing of this MoU culminates the close cooperation between the two authorities towards ensuring the safety of the rail system in the UAE. This MoU sets out the institutional framework for solving complex issues relating to the issuance of safety permits for Etihad Rail Company. Experts will be guided by this MoU in examining the documents of safety files submitted by Etihad Rail Company.”

“Such an exercise includes assessing these documents, carrying out field visits to the rail facilities, holding sessions to furnish answers to questions and inquiries, and accordingly processing the final report for issuing the safety permit.”

“This MoU will contribute over the long run to issuing safety permits for Etihad Rail Company in a shorter period through capitalizing on the local experience gained by government entities in the UAE.

Over the medium term, it will assist in establishing and developing a sound and solid experience in the safety of railways in the UAE, mobilizing the federal & local resources, curtailing the need for external consultancy services, and diffusing the culture of rail safety amongst key monitoring entities in the UAE,” added Al Wahabi. – TradeArabia News Service