The historic Hejaz Railway station in Damascus hosted a dialogue seminar on Sunday, examining the history and civilizational legacy of the Hejaz Railway, attended by Transport Minister Yareb Badr and Finance Minister Yasser Burhani, along with researchers and specialists.
The seminar, organized by the Ministry of Transport through the General Establishment of the Hejaz Railway, explored prospects for developing the railway network and repurposing assets into investment projects, including linking Syria to the Jordanian border and establishing a train network within Damascus and its surroundings.
Future Plans for Rail Linkage
Transport Minister Yareb Badr emphasized the importance of reviving the Hejaz Railway and restoring its role in connecting cities, noting that future plans include linking the Green and Red Metro lines at Al-Hajj Square and launching four railway lines for passenger transport to the suburbs.
Badr clarified that the first line heads towards Qudsaya then Duma, the second to Muadhamiya then Qattana, the third heads south towards Deir Ali and Kisweh, while the fourth links the Hejaz station to the Damascus International Exhibition and Damascus International Airport.
Investment Projects and International Cooperation
For his part, General Manager of the General Establishment of the Hejaz Railway, Mohammed Al-Ajmi, explained that the establishment is working on developing the Hejaz Railway axis and transforming it into an international corridor reaching the Jordanian border, thereby enhancing transport movement and opening new horizons for exchange between the two countries.
For his part, Turkish Ambassador to Syria Nuh Yilmaz emphasized the importance of the Hejaz Railway as a strategic project, expressing hope that transport projects and integration in this field would contribute to achieving development and stability for the countries of the region.
Presentation of International and Historical Experiences
The Acting General Manager of the Jordanian Hejaz Railway Establishment, Mohammed Al-Qariouti, presented the reality of the line in Jordan, noting that the length of the Hejaz Railway from Damascus to Medina is 1,302 kilometers, with approximately 450 kilometers passing through Jordanian territory.
French architect Thierry Granden also shed light on the architectural and historical value of the Hejaz station in Damascus, stressing the necessity of preserving its authenticity and identity in any rehabilitation project, relying on historical images documenting the state of the facilities.
The General Establishment of the Hejaz Railway had conducted a trial run for the Nuzha train in Damascus two days ago, aiming to evaluate its artistic and operational reality and determine rehabilitation requirements, paving the way for studying the possibility of returning it to service.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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