Damascus, June.9 (SANA) Syrian Minister of Transport Yarub Badr said that the ministry is working to revitalize road and railway networks in cooperation with neighboring countries, with the aim of enhancing trade flows, reducing transportation costs and reconnecting regional markets through Syrian territory.
In a statement to SANA on Tuesday, Minister Badr said that Syria’s strategic geographic location gives it a pivotal role as a land bridge linking Europe and the Gulf region, noting that efforts to revive transport connectivity are based on long-standing economic and geographic advantages rather than solely on current regional developments.
He stated that land transport through Syria remains a competitive option for time-sensitive cargo, offering greater efficiency for certain categories of goods compared with maritime transport. Prior to 2011, Syria served as a major transit corridor for trucks and commercial goods moving between Türkiye and Europe on one side and Gulf countries on the other.
The minister pointed to successful pre-2011 transport initiatives, including the launch of the first freight train service linking Tartous Port and Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port via Baghdad in 2009, with a transit time of approximately 24 hours. He also highlighted the “Green Corridor” initiative launched in 2010, which connected the ports of Alexandria, Tartous and Venice to facilitate the rapid transport of fresh agricultural products from Syria and Egypt to European markets.
Badr noted that many of these projects were suspended due to regional developments after 2011, including border closures and the decline in trade and transport activity across several neighboring countries.
Regarding future plans, the minister highlighted the strategic railway connectivity project linking Türkiye, Syria and Jordan under a trilateral memorandum of understanding, with the possibility of extending the network to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Preliminary studies envision the construction of a new standard-gauge railway line, with the section extending from Damascus to the Jordanian border estimated to cost around USD 250 million.
He added that current efforts focus on harmonizing technical specifications with railway systems in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to ensure future operational integration and interoperability.
The minister said discussions among the participating countries cover a broad range of economic opportunities associated with the project, including facilitating the movement of Syrian industrial and agricultural products to Gulf markets and transporting raw materials and construction supplies from Gulf countries to Syria and the wider region.
Badr also noted that the Hejaz Railway could play a transitional role in freight transportation between Syria and Jordan until modern rail infrastructure built to international standards is completed.
Highlighting regional best practices, the minister referred to Saudi Arabia’s Haramain High-Speed Railway as a successful model for advanced rail development. He explained that modern diesel-electric trains can reach speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, while higher speeds require dedicated high-speed rail systems and advanced electrification technologies.
On project financing, Badr stated that the ministry is evaluating several funding mechanisms, including public-private partnerships and regional and international financing sources. He stressed that projects of this scale require innovative financing models capable of supporting substantial long-term investment.
The minister emphasized that the success of railway connectivity projects depends on a comprehensive regional vision extending beyond national borders. He noted that their full economic value emerges when viewed as part of an integrated transport corridor stretching from Europe to the Gulf.
He concluded that railway connectivity projects represent a long-term strategic investment in the region’s future, capable of strengthening trade, supporting economic development and improving the efficiency of cross-border freight movement.
A/Dh
