4 GCC states to be linked via rail in phase 1

dubai — The first phase of the GCC Railway will connect four countries by December 2021, officials said.

Dr Abdullah Al Katheeri, director-general, Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport, UAE, told a media briefing that the second phase will see the other two GCC states jumping into the bandwagon by 2023.

“During a meeting of the GCC transport ministers, it has been recommended that first phase of GCC Railway linking four countries should be complete by December 2021, followed by the second phase linking Bahrain with Kuwait by December 2023,” said Khaled Olayan, Representative of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The officials refuted some media reports which suggested that only UAE and Saudi Arabia would be connected through the GCC railway network. They, however, didn’t specify the other two names.

The official were speaking at the 12th edition of Middle East Rail 2018 conference held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

“It is important to remember that rail connectivity between the GCC member states is not a new proposition. It is going ahead according to the new timeline for the GCC Railway project recommended by the GCC Ministers of Transport in June 2016,” said Khaled Olayan during the press conference. — waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com