The GCC railways project, which is in the phase of drawing up a schedule for completing detailed engineering designs, is expected to be operational during 2018, a meeting in Doha heard yesterday.
A number of representatives of the GCC railway project committee are taking part in a three-day workshop on the requirements and procedures of the project.
The estimated cost of the project is $15.4bn for a stretch of 2,117km from Kuwait city passing through all GCC countries until it reaches Muscat in Oman. The expected speed for passenger trains would be 220kph and freight trains between 80kph and 120kph.
The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Transport with the participation of GCC representatives from the borders and passports departments, the companies specialised in implementing railway projects, and some of the organisations concerned.
“We are looking forward to come up with recommendations that could take us ahead for implementing the project according to the schedule,” said Rashid Talib al-Nabit, the officer of land transport at the Ministry, on behalf of HE the Minister of Transport Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti.
