Dr. Jubarah bin Eid Al-Suraiseri, Minister of Transport, thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for approving the new Railway Transport System at the Cabinet's session held at the monarch's residence in Rawdhat Khuraim on the northern outskirts of the city Riyadh. Highlighting the system, Dr. Al-Suraiseri said even though a vast road network has already been established in Saudi Arabia, the continent-like country is still in need to the transport service of railways. Referring to the monarch's historical interest in expanding the railway network in the Kingdom, the Minister described the railways current vigorous situation in the Kingdom as unprecedented. He said the monarch has ordered a huge expansion of the Two Holy Places (Al-Mashaer) express train project between Makkah, Jeddah, and Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, a line that passes through King Abdullah Economic City in Thol; the two-track North South train project which starts from the northern border with Jordan with one track carrying minerals to Ras Al-Khair port on the Arabian Gulf and the other transporting passengers across four regions to join the Riyadh-Dammam train way; the land bridge between Riyadh and Jeddah; and the GCC train project. He explained that the implementation of railway projects will be done through one of two ways: granting concessions or presenting tenders, both aiming at the implementation, operation and maintenance of railways and their utilities by the private sector. He added that the system states the licensing conditions and other procedures for railway services, as well as the relation between all parties with the most needed transparency.
