Dubai: Dubai will have a new specialised mobility and transport centre that will offer intensive training programmes in the rail and transport sector from the first quarter of next year, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Saturday.

RTA has signed an agreement with the German firm Deutsche Bahn AG to set up the centre and share its expertise and experience in the field.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, signed the agreement with Rudiger Grube, chairman of the Board and CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG, to establish a strategic partnership.

The centre will also run intensive training programmes to qualify and upgrade the competency of managers and engineers in the rail and transport sectors at RTA. The centre will have a special focus on the latest rail technologies and systems.

According to RTA, Deutsche Bahn will set up the first training programme by early next year.

Al Tayer said that it was a privilege to tie up with a firm like Deutsche Bahn on board, which is considered one of the biggest specialised companies in operating trains and railways in Europe.

The company operates the German rail network that spans more than 60,000 kilometres with services including transportation of goods and passengers. The firm also provides services to more than 130 countries worldwide and employs more than 300,000 staff.

“The two parties share many common objectives and can exchange the best expertise in the field of rail operation and maintenance as well as the planning, designing and constructing rail projects. This agreement is a manifestation of the MoU signed between RTA and Deutsche Bahn last year,” said Al Tayer.

Grube commended the cooperative relationship between the two parties and stressed that the agreement availed of the two parties’ access to knowledge and expertise as well world’s best practices, and the company would look forward to further cooperation with RTA.