Railroad Forums 

  • The railway that united Islam

  • Discussion about railroad topics everywhere outside of Canada and the United States.
Discussion about railroad topics everywhere outside of Canada and the United States.

Moderators: Komachi, David Benton

 #1479798  by David Benton
 
"Opened in 1908 from Damascus to Medina, the Hejaz Railway was built to bring the Ottoman Empire closer together. Much has changed, but the line continues to entrance travellers today."

http://www.bbc.com/travel/gallery/20180 ... ited-islam" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1479873  by george matthews
 
David Benton wrote:"Opened in 1908 from Damascus to Medina, the Hejaz Railway was built to bring the Ottoman Empire closer together. Much has changed, but the line continues to entrance travellers today."

http://www.bbc.com/travel/gallery/20180 ... ited-islam" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The extensions south of Jordan to Medina closed in the first world war. The Saudis talk sometimes of reviving it as a route to Jeddah, Medina and Makkah, but I think they are reluctant to let people in without the usual checks. They do now have a High Speed route from Jeddah to Medina, entirely to carry pilgrims.

Am I mistaken in thinking the rail line in Jordan is Cape Gauge? If so it would have to be reconstructed as a Standard Gauge line if it were used as a link to Saudi Arabia.

The new head of government in Saudi seems to be making changes to several traditional policies. For example he has lifted the ban on women driving and is allowing cinemas again. I would think that whatever changes he is making to policies within the kingdom he would be very reluctant to increase ease of travel across the frontiers. For one thing Saudi has many enemies in the outside world, especially the religious and political fanatics reducing Syria to chaos, and also the similar groups in Iraq. In both countries the disputes between Shi'ites and Sunnis are reducing the populations to misery in conditions of civil war. There are no signs at present that this ancient dispute can be resolved peacefully. Within Saudi itself the Shi'ite population of the Gulf coast is under constant supervision by the secret and non-secret police.

One may well imagine a rail network in the peninsula linking Aden to Jeddah via the other Yemeni cities. But as the whole area is in a state of intense war these projects will remain fantasies until the fighting can stop and peace be restored - something for which there are no signs.