Aleppo - The first trip of Aleppo-Mersin train was run from Baghdad station on Friday, with one trip every week in the framework of the agreement signed between the General Establishment of Syrian Railways and its Turkish peer.
During his meeting on Thursday with the Turkish media delegation, Director of the General Establishment of Syrian Railways George Mokaabari said that the inauguration of the line comes to enhance cooperation in the field of railways between Syria and Turkey.
''The inauguration of the line aims at increasing the number of passengers from both sides, easing pressure on the border crossings and providing fast and safe rail trips to the passengers and goods, mainly after cancelling visa entries between the two countries,'' he added.
Mokaabari said that the ongoing cooperation with Turkey in the field of railways aims to connect northern Europe and Gulf states, Europe, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
Turkish Consul in Aleppo Adnan Kececi said the ever-growing Syrian-Turkish relations in all fields have reflected well on the development of rail transport, mainly after annulling visa entries which led to an increase in the number of passengers and in the trade exchange volume, adding that this increase has necessitated solutions and alternatives to manage these numbers.
Aleppo-Mersin train consists of two first class saloon compartment, sleeping compartment and restaurant compartment. It sets off from Aleppo with one trip a week on Friday at 3:00 a.m. and returns from Mersin at 11:00 p.m.
By Manal Ismael/Mazen
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
