Minister of Transport Yarub Badr discussed cooperation with Saudi officials in developing Syria’s railway network and exchanging technical expertise in operations and maintenance, the ministry said in a statement released on Monday.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the second edition of the Saudi International Rail Exhibition and Conference, held in Riyadh under the theme “Leading the Transformation, Creating the Path.”
The minister pointed out that Syria has a rich history in railways, dating back to the late 19th century. He noted that the ongoing conflict has caused significant damage to the network, which spans approximately 2,800 kilometers, with about 1,000 kilometers still in operation.
He stated that the ministry is prioritizing the rehabilitation of economically viable railway lines, particularly the phosphate transport line to the port of Tartous and the container line from Lattakia to Sheikh Najjar Industrial City.
Badr hailed the talks as “fruitful” and aimed at benefiting from Saudi experience in organizing freight transport and evaluating road paving. He highlighted an upcoming technical meeting of the Syrian-Saudi Transportation Committee next month, which will explore cooperation prospects and address existing obstacles.
