Syrian Transport Minister Ya’rub Badr confirmed that the ministry is working with neighbouring countries to reactivate land and rail transportation networks. In official statements issued in May, he reiterated these plans on several occasions throughout June. This aims to increase trade, lower transportation costs, and reconnect regional markets across Syrian territory.

Syria has long been a crucial transit route for regional trade because of its established economic and geographic advantages, according to Badr; hence, the region’s current issues are not the only reason for this focus.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), he continued, “The land route through Syria is an appropriate option for certain types of goods that require rapid transport and are characterised by time sensitivity, making land transport more efficient than maritime transport.”

He clarified that before 2011, Syria was a major hub for regional trade due to the active transit of trucks and goods between Turkey and Europe on the one hand and the Gulf Arab states on the other.

The Minister of Transport indicated that before 2011, Syria had effective models for rail and road connections with neighbouring nations, including maritime links. He highlighted the operation of the first freight train between Tartus and the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr in 2009, which took around 24 hours via Baghdad.

Moreover, he brought up the 2010 “Green Corridor” project, which used Ro-Ro ships to link the ports of Alexandria, Tartus, and Venice, Italy, with the goal of quickly delivering fresh agricultural goods from Egypt and Syria to European markets.

$250 Million to Connect Syria & Jordan

Based on the memorandum of understanding that the three nations have signed, Badr emphasised the strategic project for a rail link between Turkey, Syria, and Jordan. According to preliminary estimates, the construction of a new railway line in accordance with internationally recognised standards could cost up to $250 million. The line would run from Damascus to the Jordanian border.

He stated that in order to guarantee future operational integration, the current work focuses on standardising technical specifications with railway networks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan.

He noted that discussions among the three nations focus on various economic opportunities from the project, including shipping, building and raw materials from the Gulf to Syria and other nations, as well as exporting Syrian industrial and agricultural products to Gulf markets. Further, he added that essential studies are nearing completion and that a framework for implementation is under development.

Badr suggested that the Hejaz Railway could serve as a transitional transport solution for goods between Syria and Jordan until modern, internationally standard lines are constructed.

Taking Advantage of Local Experiences

He underlined the importance of learning from local experiences in developing new networks to enhance the railway industry. He pointed out that modern diesel-electric trains can reach speeds of up to 250 km/h, but require advanced electrical systems and specialised high-speed rail lines to do so.

In keeping with the government’s current priorities of reconstruction and giving citizens access to housing and other necessities, he said, the ministry is working to secure the funding required for these projects to accomplish their goals.

The success of these projects necessitates creative financing models appropriate to the scale of the investments, he said, and the ministry is exploring several options, including public-private partnerships and leveraging regional and international funding.

He went on to say that railway connectivity projects are a long-term strategic investment in the region’s future, emphasising that creating a cutting-edge, integrated transportation network will boost intraregional trade, promote economic growth, and improve the efficiency of goods movement among participating nations.