AMMAN, October 8, 2025 (Agencies): Passengers may soon be able to travel by train between Amman and Damascus by late 2026, as Jordan, Syria, and Turkiye push forward with plans to restore the historic Hijaz Railway — once a major transportation link between the Levant and the holy cities of Madinah and Makkah.
A high-level meeting in Amman last month brought together officials from the three countries, who agreed to cooperate in reviving the century-old line. Under the agreement, Turkiye will support Syria in railway reconstruction, while Jordan will be responsible for locomotive maintenance.
Zahi Khalil, director-general and deputy chairman of the Jordan Hijaz Railway at the Jordanian Ministry of Transport, told Arab News during the Global Rail Conference in Abu Dhabi that work is progressing steadily and that passenger services between the two capitals could begin as early as the last quarter of 2026.
“Turkiye agreed in September to support the repair of the railway section between Damascus and the Jordanian border. They will completely restore it,” Khalil said. “Regarding the connection process — the link between Damascus and Amman — it could be ready by the end of next year, 2026. So possibly in the last quarter of next year, we’ll have the first passenger trip between Amman and Damascus.”
Initially, the focus will be on passenger transport, but plans are in place to expand the route for freight trains within the next three to five years. This will involve significant infrastructure upgrades to accommodate heavier loads.
The original Hijaz Railway, constructed during the Ottoman Empire, once reduced the journey from Damascus to Makkah from 40 days to just five. It was envisioned by the Ottoman Sultan as a symbol of Islamic unity and modernization. Although the line was never fully completed due to the First World War and the fall of the Ottoman Empire, much of the original track remains intact.
Khalil explained that these historic sections will be rehabilitated and upgraded for modern trains, transforming the revived line into both a functional transport corridor and a heritage attraction. “Trains are one of the greatest and easiest means of connection between countries; they carry large numbers of people and encourage tourism both within Jordan and between Jordan and neighboring countries,” he said.
The Jordan Hijaz Railway already operates tourist trips along parts of the historic route in Wadi Rum, and officials believe the restored line will boost regional tourism, connecting cities and heritage sites across borders.
Khalil also revealed that work is underway to rehabilitate railway lines between Damascus and Aleppo, with plans to extend them to the Turkish border. “Once Syria is linked to the Turkish rail lines, Amman will be connected all the way to Istanbul,” he said.
Looking ahead, Jordan also plans to connect the Amman-Damascus route with future railway projects in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, reviving the broader vision of the original Hijaz Railway and creating a major transport artery linking the Middle East.