Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

GCC Feasibility Study for Railway | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Dubai, Asharq Al-Awsat- The Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) has begun a feasibility study for a 600-mile railway that will connect all six GCC countries, Asharq Al-Awsat can reveal.

The study began last month and will take approximately one year, said Ramzi Al-Aassar, a Saudi-based senior transport specialist of the World Bank on Tuesday.

Al-Aassar explained the main purpose of the proposed project would be to ease and integrate the transportation between the GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Other benefits include the improvement of GCC internal trade, as well as providing many job opportunities.

Initial information regarding the costs of the project will be available by February 2008, he said.

Al-Aassar made his comments during the Middle East Rail Projects (MEED) conference in Dubai. The proposed GCC track, he said, will run along coastal areas from Kuwait to Oman.

Al-Aassar said a decision had been taken by the GCC leaders to go ahead with the plan.

“They are serious, they are committed. It is on top of their agenda,” he added.