A delegation of engineers specialized in infrastructure and mobile units in the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) is set to visit the Kingdom to examine the cooperation in supporting the Jordan Hijaz Railway Corporation’s (JHRC) in the railway rehabilitation project.
Jordan Ministry of Transport spokesperson, Ali Odaibat, said the visit follows a meeting between Minister of Transport Wajih Azaizeh, and his Egyptian counterpart, Kamel Al-Wazir, during which the two discussed ways to bolster cooperation.
He added that the delegation will discuss the economic feasibility study for the railway between Zarqa, Amman and Queen Alia International Airport, with the aim of activating the route and integrating it into the local transport system, and leveraging Egyptian expertise in rail transport, and in developing rolling stock, and modern communication and signaling systems.
Odaibat indicated that the ministry, in cooperation with the JHRC, is developing the JHRC’s rail transport system to be an important alternative to transporting passengers between Amman and the airport.
He noted that the Hejaz railway is a heritage landmark of Jordan’s modern history due to its relation with the Great Arab Revolt. In addition, a railway building in the city of Ma’an, southern Jordan, was the official residence of the founding King Abdullah I, who used one of its trains for his journey from Ma’an to Amman.
He added that the JHRC will work to increase the number of trips and provide the best services, which will be positively reflected in the provision of domestic and recreational tourism service for school students, in particular, and for the local community in general.