Abu Dhabi: Etihad Rail is witnessing strong demand for passenger services, with several trips between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah selling out, particularly during weekends and peak travel periods, according to booking data from the company's online reservation platform.Booking indicators showed that seats in both Comfort Class and Premium Class were fully booked on several Abu Dhabi-Fujairah services, reflecting growing passenger interest in the national rail network.Data reviewed from the official booking platform indicated that three Abu Dhabi-to-Fujairah departures scheduled for Friday were fully booked, including services departing at 8:19am, 1:53pm and 6:39pm.Booking data also showed strong demand for services scheduled on Sunday, with the morning Comfort Class service fully booked and only limited Premium Class seats remaining available.Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE's national railway network, said it continues to monitor travel and reservation trends and will provide additional capacity when required.The company noted that demand is being driven by a broad range of passengers, including families, business travellers, students, leisure travellers and People of Determination.According to Etihad Rail, passengers are currently booking their journeys an average of 12 days in advance, indicating growing confidence in the service and increasing integration of rail travel into personal and business travel plans.The company said customer interest extends beyond first-time experiences, with many passengers now planning family trips, work schedules and leisure activities around train services.During the first weeks following the launch of passenger operations, Etihad Rail sold more than 70,000 tickets, highlighting strong public interest in rail travel as a convenient new transport option connecting cities and regions across the UAE.Etihad Rail said the figures demonstrate increasing reliance on rail as a comfortable and dependable means of transport for work, family travel, weekend trips and domestic tourism.Introductory fares on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route start from AED55 in Comfort Class and AED120 in Premium Class, with different ticket options available to provide varying levels of flexibility.The company said passengers can plan their journeys through the Journey Planner available on its website and mobile application. The tool recommends routes and transport connections, including metro services, Etihad Rail buses, taxis and ride-hailing services.Passengers can also access travel updates through the Etihad Rail app, website and station information screens, while alert subscriptions provide real-time service updates directly to their mobile devices.
