Thales and Etihad Rail have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see the two companies develop a significant collaboration on rail control, smart stations and ticketing technologies to contribute to the growth of the rail industry in the UAE and the Middle East.
The signing took place during InnoTrans exhibition in Berlin and was signed by officials from both sides.
Through this association, the two parties will collaborate in various areas, which include: new generation rail control; European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 3; driver advisory system; intelligent traffic operation; asset management; real time passenger flow; data driven operation control centre; video analytics; connectivity and passenger entertainment system; booking and ticketing system, and mobility and integration solutions between various modes of transport.
“We are very pleased to sign this MoU with Etihad Rail,” said Millar Crawford, executive vice-president, Ground Transportation Systems, Thales.
“This new partnership demonstrates the key partner role played by Thales throughout the world to help its customers meet the challenges they have to face. It proves also the high recognition of Thales expertise in rail domain. Finally, this collaboration will represent a significant step to highlight Thales presence in the Middle East region.”
Ahmed Al Musawa, executive director of Passenger Sector, Etihad Rail said: “We are delighted to sign a MoU with Thales, which will support us to achieve our mission of developing and operating a rail network that incorporates state-of-the-art technologies and provides safe, sustainable, and reliable solutions. Through this partnership, we assure our clients that we are developing the UAE National Rail Network as per the highest international standards, to meet their requirements and support them in meeting their business objectives, driving a sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective supply chain.”
Image credit: Thales
