Originally Posted by Trade Arabia

The GCC is studying a project to build a grand railway network to connect all Gulf states, a top official was quoted as saying in Abu Dhabi.
Mohammed bin Ubeid Al Mazroie, GCC assistant secretary-general for Economic Affairs, made the announcement during in a lecture at the Information Affairs Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in Abu Dhabi.
Al Mazroie, quoted by the Khaleej Times, also said the GCC Transportation Ministers Committee had been assigned to prepare a detailed feasibility study on the project and present its recommendations to the 25th Session of the Supreme Council to approve it.
In this context, he asked Saudi Arabia to prepare the bidding application documents and terms of reference for the feasibility study on the project.
The rail track will run along Eastern Coast of the Arabian Peninsula linking the six GCC member states, from Kuwait to Muscat, running in particular through the industrial ports and areas in the Arabian Gulf.
He said the railway project complemented other major projects such the GCC grid network, water linkage, and the intelligent ID card project that will facilitate movement of GCC citizens between the Gulf countries.
“Two holy cities, Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia will also be connected to all GCC nations to facilitate those people who visit the city for holy pilgrimage, “ he said in reply to a question.
When asked whether other countries will join this project he said, “Iraq will join this and Turkey is supposed to join it later likewise we hope about Yemen as well.”
He outlined the contents of the final report related to the feasibility study in general, the type of railway line and its environmental impacts, the obstacles lying ahead and the means of overcoming them, and the costs and time frame for implementing the project.
According to a Khaleej Times report, Al Mazroie said the project would boost relations and co-operation among GCC peoples.
The cost will be the same for all nations, he explained.