Damascus, Nov. 09 (SANA) Syria is exploring plans to revive the historic Hejaz Railway through new passenger routes around Damascus, a proposed international corridor toward the Jordanian border and investment projects aimed at expanding transport, tourism and regional trade.The proposals were discussed on Sunday at a forum hosted by the historic Hejaz Railway Station in Damascus, attended by Transport Minister Yarub Badr, Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh, researchers and specialists.Organized by the Ministry of Transport through the General Establishment of the Hejaz Railway, the forum examined the railway’s history and architectural heritage, its role in connecting cities and facilitating transport, trade and pilgrimage, and opportunities to develop the network and make greater use of the establishment’s assets.The program included two lectures and discussions on international experiences in transforming historic railway stations into cultural and tourist destinations while preserving their heritage.
Plans to restore the railway’s role
Speaking to SANA’s reporter during the forum on Sunday, Transport Minister Badr said reviving the Hejaz Railway was important to restoring connections between cities. He said the event aimed to highlight the railway’s history and strengthen cooperation among relevant institutions, experts and representatives of friendly countries to support its rehabilitation and the development of rail transport.Badr outlined plans to connect the proposed Green and Red metro lines at Hejaz Square and establish four passenger rail routes serving Damascus’ suburbs.The proposed routes would connect the capital with Qudsaya and Dummar; Maadamiyah and Qatana; southern destinations including Deir Ali and Kisweh; and, through a fourth line, the Hejaz Station with the Damascus International Fairgrounds and Damascus International Airport.He said construction of the Hejaz Railway began in 1900 and it entered service in 1908, playing an important role in connecting cities along its route from Damascus to Ma’an and onward to Medina.Badr added that the establishment’s staff had rehabilitated a steam locomotive and operated a trial journey. He expressed hope that similar journeys would be repeated and expanded as part of efforts to restore rail services and carry passengers to the suburbs.
Investment projects and regional links
Mohammed al-Ajami, director-general of the General Establishment of the Hejaz Railway, said the institution was working on several investment projects, foremost among them the development of the historic railway corridor into an international route reaching the Jordanian border.He said the initiative would strengthen transport links and create new opportunities for trade between the two countries. The establishment is seeking to launch a new phase of development based on its historical legacy, technical capabilities and real estate assets, with the aim of restoring its role in transport and turning its assets into investment and development projects that support the national economy.Turkish Ambassador to Syria Nuh Yilmaz, speaking at the forum, described the HejazRailway as a strategic project. He expressed hope that Syria would become a center of stability in the region and that transport and integration projects would contribute to development and stability across the region.Mohammed al-Qrayouti, acting director-general of Jordan’s Hejaz Railway Corporation, reviewed the railway’s status in Jordan, including efforts to operate tourist journeys, invest in historic stations and expand its use for freight transport. He said the railway between Damascus and Medina extends for 1,302 kilometers, about 450 kilometers of which run through Jordan. He added that efforts were underway to increase its use for freight transport between Jordan, Syria and Turkey.
Preserving the railway’s heritage
Lebanese researcher and academic Adi Choueiri presented an overview of the history and development of railways in the Levant and their role in connecting cities and supporting transport, trade and pilgrimage.Speaking to SANA’s reporter during the forum, Choueiri described the Hejaz Railway as a historic bridge between the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula, with Damascus serving as a gateway to the wider Arab region. He highlighted the contribution of railway links between Beirut, Damascus and southern Syria to economic activity, particularly in the Hauran region.Choueiri said the trial journeys and renewed interest in the railway were encouraging signs for the revival of rail transport in Syria. He pointed to the response of Syrians, especially children, to the return of the steam train as evidence of the railway’s place in the country’s historical memory.French architect Thierry Grandin focused on the architectural and historical significance of Damascus’ Hejaz Station, describing it as one of the city’s notable architectural landmarks. He highlighted its combination of Islamic design, European elements and traditional Damascene architecture, stressing the need to preserve its original character in any rehabilitation project.Grandin said railways had transformed travel by making journeys faster and safer before becoming strategic instruments for development, economic exchange and stronger links between regions and countries.He stressed the importance of preserving the remaining locomotives, carriages and equipment as physical evidence of railway history and technological development, drawing on historical photographs documenting the equipment.He also discussed the tourism potential of the Damascus-Zabadani and Damascus-Bosra al-Sham railway routes. The Zabadani route passes through mountainous areas alongside the Barada River, amid vegetation and scenic landscapes, offering opportunities for tourist train journeys close to the capital.The forum followed a trial journey conducted two days earlier by the General Establishment of the Hejaz Railway using a recreational train in Damascus. The journey was intended to assess the train’s technical and operational condition and identify rehabilitation requirements ahead of a study into the possibility of returning it to service and restoring its tourist and recreational role, long associated with the memories of generations of Syrians.
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