Damascus Seminar Explores Revitalizing the Hejaz Railway
The historic Hejaz Railway station in Damascus hosted a specialized symposium aimed at exploring the history and cultural heritage of the railway, while addressing government initiatives to rehabilitate its assets for investment and economic development. The event was attended by Minister of Transport Yarob Badr and Minister of Finance Mohammed Yassar Berniah, alongside a group of researchers and industry experts.
Discussions during the seminar highlighted the prospects for developing Syria’s rail network. Minister Badr emphasized that current efforts are focused on restoring the pivotal role of the Hejaz Railway in connecting cities and improving transport movement. The Minister outlined future plans, which include connecting the city’s red and green metro lines at Hejaz Square and launching four dedicated passenger rail lines serving the Damascus suburbs. These lines are intended to provide links to the Damascus International Fairgrounds and Damascus International Airport.
Mohammed Al-Ajmi, Director General of the General Establishment for the Hejaz Railway, reviewed the institution’s current investment projects. Chief among these is the transformation of the railway corridor into an international transit route extending toward the Jordanian border, which is expected to create new opportunities for trade. Al-Ajmi noted that development strategies rely on leveraging the institution’s significant technical and real estate assets.
The seminar also addressed technical and architectural considerations. French architect Thierry Grandin spoke on the historical value of the Hejaz station, stressing the necessity of preserving its unique architectural identity, which blends Islamic styles with European elements and traditional Damascene design. He also advocated for the protection of historic locomotives and carriages as living evidence of the evolution of transport technology.
Mohammed Al-Qaryouti, Acting Director General of the Hejaz Jordan Railway, provided an overview of the status of the line in Jordan and current efforts to revitalize its use for freight transport. He underscored the existence of joint efforts to enhance rail connectivity between Jordan and Syria, extending toward Turkey, to support regional economic development.
The symposium served as a platform for exchanging perspectives on transforming historic stations into cultural and tourism spaces, drawing on successful international experiences. Lebanese researcher Adi Shweiri highlighted the historical role of railways in the Levant as a bridge between Arab regions, asserting that renewed official and public interest in reviving these lines is a positive indicator for the potential restoration of rail transport’s role in economic development.
Recently, the General Establishment for the Hejaz Railway conducted a test run of a steam locomotive within Damascus. This step was intended to evaluate technical and operational readiness, paving the way for broader initiatives to restore service and develop tourism and service-oriented transport projects in the region.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
