Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s national railway network, inspired the next generation of engineers at the Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF) last week.
Interactive Rocket Rail workshops, held on each day of the festival, invited the city’s school children with a passion for science and technology to try their hand at constructing a prototype rocket-powered locomotive.
Promising an educational and fun experience, the workshops also included train model
building activities as well as an exciting race, where participants could test the speed of their
motor-powered trains on a custom-built competition track.
The participation in and sponsorship of ADSF was part of Etihad Rail’s wider commitment to
educate communities in the UAE about the new railway sector and the socioeconomic benefits it will bring to the country.
In addition to the creative workshops, ADSF visitors also had the opportunity to learn
about railway safety as part of Etihad Rail’s ongoing Play by the Rules initiative.
Over the past four months, the Play by the Rules campaign bus has been touring Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, raising awareness of safety procedures along railway lines. This month, the bus made a special stop at the main ADSF venue at the East Plaza Corniche in Abu Dhabi from 13 until 22 November.
The fourth edition of the ADSF was held from 13 – 22 November in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah. The festival aims to inspire the nation’s young talent with science related hands-on exhibits and interactive shows.
Once fully operational, Etihad Rail will cater to freight and passengers, spanning approximately 1,200 kilometres across the UAE. The AED40 billion rail network will connect urban and peripheral communities, facilitate trade, open up communication channels and foster economic development across all seven emirates. The network will also form a vital part of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) railway network, linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and to Oman via Al Ain in the east.
(Source: Etihad Rail)
