High speed rail and air travel – An expert insight into Middle East rail-air projects

So, I have just begun to research for the Middle East’s largest rail event, Middle East Rail 2012. Over the coming weeks I will be calling, meeting and corresponding with over 200 top rail experts from the Middle East and across the globe. I thought this might make an excellent blogging series to share the musings of our rail heroes.

Below I have included a summary of the some of the most interesting points from my research today:

Words of wisdom from an international air-rail expert:

In light of the GCC’s master plans for connecting the region, I asked a global expert on rail – air networks for his top 3 challenges for air-rail projects in the Middle East:

• Changing public opinion – The most common concern when looking at ME rail projects, how to convince people to use public transport over cars
• Optimal design – The key to bringing our regions car lovers on track, convenient station locations, air-conditioned walkways – see Abu Dhabi’s dense network plans for a great example of this.
• Collaboration vs competition – Relationship building between rail operators and the regions top airlines will be one to watch over the coming years, both of the above challenges can only be overcome through air-rail co-operation. e.g checking in for your flight when you board the train, extending the scope of airlines by offering one ticket which will allow both air and rail travel to different cities. 

Here is a great article about some global collaborations, including some notable ME airlines.

I have not even touched on the intermodal potential of the air-rail network’s as that will come later in my research, however there are a few things we should keep an eye out for this coming year.

• The major airlines like Etihad (who already code share internationally with SNCF high speed to extend there flight path in France) and Emirates signalling a greater interest in partnerships
• GCC network plans
• International best practice examples like Jet Airways, who have extended there flight options hugely through rail share projects

Thanks for reading and I will continue to update the blog series.