Etihad Rail Partners with Transworld Logistics

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 3 October, 2015: Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Transworld Logistics, a multi-faceted shipping and logistics company.

The agreement will provide Transworld Logistics – part of the UAE-based global conglomerate Transworld Group - with a new and economical mode of transport and help deliver a reliable, high volume service across rail and shipping networks.

The MoU was signed byFaris Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail, and Mr. MannanBalasubramanian, General Manager of Transworld Logistics.
“This agreement cements an important relationship between our two companies,” saidFaris Saif Al Mazrouei, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Rail. “In addition to their warehousing and logistics offerings, the Transworld Group also represents other organisations alongside Transworld Logistics – these are Orient Express Lines and Balaji Shipping Lines. The collaboration between Etihad Rail and Transworld Logistics highlights the importance of rail as a vital component of multi-modal transport in the Middle East.”

Established in 1976, Transworld Group is one of the leading international providers of multi-modal integrated logistics services in the Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent and South East Asia. The Transworld Group has three ship owning companies, based in India, UAE and Singapore. One of these is Orient Express Lines which is a common carrier feeder servicethat connects the Indian Sub-Continent with hub ports at Colombo and Jebel Ali. The other is Balaji Shipping Lines, the leading carrier of refrigerated cargoes between Indian Sub-Continent and the Middle East. These organisations along with Transworld Logistics make up the Group.

Mr. Mannan Balasubramanian, General Manager of Transworld Logistics said, “Once operational, the Etihad Rail network will transport large volumes of goods in an economical, safe and efficient manner. transforming the freight industry across the UAE. Etihad Rail will also provide an environmentally friendly method of transport, which is always a key consideration for us. We are confident that our partnership with Etihad Rail will createan even more effective goods transport service across the Middle East.”

The Etihad Rail network will span approximately 1,200 kilometers across the UAE, providing both freight and passenger services. It will connect urban and peripheral communities, facilitate trade, open up communication channels and foster economic development across all Emirates in the UAE. The network will also form a vital part of the GCC Railway Network, linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia through Ghweifat in the west and Oman through Al Ain in the east.