Saudi Arabia’s SAR and Etihad Rail of the UAE announced today they will start detailed collaboration. A memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies calls for the adoption of common solutions and the sharing of best practice. Committees including representatives from both companies will be created and meetings, seminars, and workshops will be held regularly. Saudi Arabia’s plans call for the construction of more than 7,200 kilometres of railways. More than 4,500 kilometres is to be built by SAR. The Etihad Rail network will be 1,200 kilometres. It will form part of the GCC railway network linking the UAE to Saudi Arabia via Ghweifat in the west and Oman via Al Ain in the east. The GCC railway is scheduled to start operating in 2018.