Siemens, a global technology leader, has unveiled a concept for a premium high-speed capacity intercity train, tailored for the Gulf region at the Middle East Rail event in Dubai, UAE.

The Hesan Alkhaleej or ‘Horse of the Gulf’ is a comfortable, reliable and efficient alternative to road and air travel and incorporates proven technology from the Siemens Mobility portfolio, and integrates special features for the Gulf, the company said.

“The Hesan Alkhaleej is a premium intercity train; our vision of a real alternative to road and air travel in the Gulf region,” said Joerg Scheifler, senior executive vice president, Mobility, Siemens Middle East.

“Mobility between cities is a key driver of economic stimulus, and while there are already a number of modern city transit systems in the region, we see the need arising for fast, safe, luxurious and efficient intercity services to link these together.

“We have been in the rail business for more than 160 years and we draw on this global experience to combine proven technology with local knowledge, in order to develop solutions that are tailor-made for the region.”

The Hesan Alkhaleej concept is designed to withstand ambient temperatures in excess of 55 degrees Celsius, and incorporates sand-filtering technologies to ensure reliable service in the region’s challenging climate. Unprecedented levels of redundancy, especially with regard to air conditioning and power supply, ensure that even in the event of multiple failures the train will be able to continue its journey and protect passengers.

The Hesan Alkhaleej would also be equipped to run on tracks suitable for heavy freight services, enabling mixed-use services to accommodate the varied future requirements of the region’s rail systems.

“Rail networks on the Arabian Peninsula are chiefly built around freight operations, but we also recognise the needs of growing populations and an increasingly diverse economic landscape,” said Scheifler. “It is key to the efficient use of investment and infrastructure that passenger and freight services can be combined in a mixed-use solution, integrated with what’s already in place and achieve the speed, luxury and convenience levels required to compete with air and road travel. This is the Hesan Alkhaleej concept.”

Digitalization is the key
At Middle East Rail 2016, which will run till March 9 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition, Siemens is showcasing its full portfolio for rail and mobility innovation, including rolling stock, rail automation, rail electrification and seamless mobility solutions. Whether it’s energy-saving driverless trams, app-based e-ticketing for intermodal mobility or remote diagnostics for optimized maintenance, Siemens electrification, automation and digitalization technology is equipping mobility to be a driver of truly smart cities in the Middle East.

“The Middle East’s rail networks are at varying stages of maturity, and more developed networks can be significantly enhanced by digitalization technology to increase the availability of infrastructure, optimize throughput and improve passenger experience,” said Scheifler. “This is an important part of developing rail infrastructure into a valuable asset as part of a truly smart city, by lowering operational costs, boosting quality of life for residents and reducing environmental impact.”

The Siemens portfolio offers technology to enhance availability with digitalized technology that allows predictive maintenance, optimized spares and active energy management. The throughput is managed more efficiently by smart train driver advisory systems, autonomous driving technology and integrated resource and intelligent asset management.

Finally, the passenger experience is improved with automated fare collection and ticketing systems, and technology for intermodality, to create intelligent, networked systems which provide an attractive, simplified service to passengers, the company said. – TradeArabia News Service