ABU DHABI: Following its announcement last month of a joint venture with DB Schenker Rail to operate the UAE's railway network, Etihad Rail says it is considering connecting Abu Dhabi International Airport and Dubai World Central with rail logistics centres.

According to John Lesniewski, Etihad Rail's director of sales, the plan is to offer customers air, road and rail-based logistics options similar to the Forth Worth Alliance Airport in Dallas, TX.

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of Etihad Rail DB and vice chairman of Etihad Rail, added: "The UAE has successfully developed and managed other mega-infrastructure projects, and Etihad Rail DB will play a vital role in integrating rail into the nation's state-of-the-art transport system."

Commenting on the new joint-venture, Etihad Rail chairman H.E. Nasser Alsowaidi said: "Deutsche Bahn and DB Schenker Rail are the ideal partners to help spearhead a successful, modern railway for the UAE for generations to come. Facilitating knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices, the joint venture ... is a very positive step forward ... to provide the UAE with a world-class, modern, integrated and efficient rail network that will drive economic growth and social development."

The UAE's national railway network is scheduled for completion by early 2018 and is part of the Gulf Cooperation Council's 2116 km. rail project connecting Kuwait with Oman via Saudi Arabia and Qatar that is also due to open in the same year.