Rail project gets go-ahead

07 September 2001

The feasibility study for a major railway project has been approved by the kingdom's Supreme Economic Council, headed by Crown Prince Abdullah. The proposals envisage the construction of two major railways to serve the kingdom's industry. A meeting to present the plans to potential investors was scheduled for late September.

The longest line will stretch 1,100 miles from the far north of the kingdom to Riyadh, while the smaller one will connect Jeddah with Riyadh. Both new tracks will meet an existing line at Riyadh that runs to Dammam. An extension from Dammam to Jubail is also being considered.

The northern line will transport slurry from the phosphate and bauxite mines now under study at Al-Jalamid and Al-Zabirah to treatment and port facilities in Jubail. The east-west line will provide a link between the industrial cities of the east and west coasts.

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