'Logistics companies to move bulk cargo by rail'

Etihad Rail has launched a new national campaign urging logistics providers, manufacturers and heavy industry in the UAE to move long-haul and bulk cargo from road to rail, as rising industrial activity puts growing pressure on highways, delivery times and transport costs.

Omar Alsebeyi, Acting CEO of Etihad Rail Freight, said logistics decisions are increasingly about certainty, not just speed. “Delays, congestion and volatility carry real costs. Rail addresses those challenges by offering scale, reliability and predictability, day in and day out,” he said.

The campaign highlights the role of Etihad Rail’s nearly 900-km freight network, which links ports, industrial zones and logistics hubs across the country. Designed for bulk and high-volume cargo, the network operates on fixed schedules and dedicated corridors, offering a level of reliability that is becoming harder to achieve on congested roads.

Each freight train can carry the equivalent of up to 300 heavy trucks, reducing traffic on major routes and helping companies manage shipments more predictably. Etihad Rail says this is especially important for industries working with tight production timelines and large cargo volumes. It highlighted that rail is not meant to replace road transport. Instead, shifting long-haul freight to rail frees up trucks for last-mile delivery, making the overall logistics system more efficient.