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Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed an agreement to implement a high-speed railway (HSR) project linking the two countries under the framework of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.
The agreement was signed on Monday by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser and Qatar’s Minister of Transport Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The planned 785-kilometre HSR line will connect the capitals Riyadh and Doha, with key stations in Hofuf and Dammam, and will link King Salman International Airport in Saudi Arabia with Hamad International Airport in Qatar, according to a report by the state-owned Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The high-speed trains will operate at speeds exceeding 300 kilometres per hour, reducing travel time between the two capitals to around two hours, the report said, adding that construction is expected to be completed within six years.
The railway is projected to generate an economic impact of nearly 115 billion Saudi riyals ($30.7 billion) on the combined GDP of both countries, serve more than 10 million passengers annually and create over 30,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The financial details weren't disclosed.
HSR projects in MENA
Saudi Arabia existing HSR system is the 450-km long Haramain high-speed electric railway connecting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with stops in Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
The Kingdom has started the tendering process for the Qiddiya HSR, connecting King Salman International Airport, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and Qiddiya City in Riyadh. The trains will have a top speed of 250 kilometres per hour, connecting the destinations within 30 minutes.
In the rest of the region, Egypt is currently building the first phase of a 2,000-km HSR network while Morocco has embarked on the construction of the second phase of its HSR system, linking Marrakech and Kenitra. In the UAE, tendering process is underway on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai HSR link. Iraq's Development Road mega project is expected include a HSR system.
(Writing by Majda Muhsen; Editing by Anoop Menon)
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