DUBAI: Passengers traveling between Amman and Damascus could be taking the train as early as the end of 2026, with both countries determined to restore a historic rail link that once connected the Levant with the holy cities of Madinah and Makkah.
A high-level meeting in Amman last month saw Jordan, Syria, and Turkiye agree to work together on reviving the historic railway.
Under the agreement, Turkiye will support Syria with reconstruction efforts, while Jordan will provide locomotive maintenance.
Although details regarding timelines remain limited, Zahi Khalil, director-general and deputy chairman of the Jordan Hijaz Railway at the Jordanian Ministry of Transport, said plans are well underway and could allow passenger services between the two capitals as soon as next year.
“Turkiye agreed in September to support the repair of the railway section between Damascus and the Jordanian border. They will completely restore it,” Khalil told Arab News on the sidelines of the Global Rail Conference in Abu Dhabi last week.
