ANKARA, Apr 6 : Turkish Minister of transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said that Türkiye plans to extend its current railway line to the city of Aleppo in Syria, as part of efforts to revive the historic Hejaz Railway.
“We wish to revive the old line with a symbolic and historical character. However, if we are talking about freight transport and logistics, we will first begin by extending our current railway line to Aleppo – a project requiring approximately $110 million. Between Aleppo and Damascus, there is already an operational railway line,” Anadolu News Agency quoted Mr. Uraloglu as saying during his participation in an event for Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party in Afyonkarahisar province, western Türkiye.
“We will also work on reviving the railway line extending from Nusaybin in southeastern Türkiye to Qamishli in northeastern Syria. This will enable us to establish connectivity with both Syria and Iraq, and these projects are included in our agenda.” He added.
The Hejaz Railway, also known as the Hamidian Railway, is one of the most prominent historical projects in the region. It was constructed during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II between 1900 and 1908, spanning approximately 1,322 kilometers between Damascus and Medina in Saudi Arabia. With later extensions, the total length reached nearly 1,900 kilometers.
The railway extends from Damascus through Jordanian territories to Medina. Although it was originally planned to reach Mecca, this section was never completed. The project aimed to enhance geographical connectivity and facilitate transportation across the region.
