Jordan Hejaz RailwayReality & Aspiration

Dr.A.MALKAWI

Deputy General DirectorJordan Hejaz Railway

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Eskisehir,17-21 June 2013

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Presentation Layout:

• Introduction.

•Jordan Hejaz Railway Corporation.

•Plans and Aspirations of JHR.

Arab region is witnessing these days a rapid developmentin the field of transport . The leaders of the Arab countriestook strategic decision in linking all Arab countries with

railway. we look forward to the day when Arab world willconnect with Europe via Jordan, Syria, Turkey and in theend with Europe with a modern rail system with

international standards.

Although I will talk to you today about the oldest railwayline from history of the Arab region, which havebeen established 112 years ago in 1900 of the last

century that the Hejaz railway, which represents an era ofour history and might the latest revolution in the transport

sector at that time.

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Railways in the past and the present are very important for

countries with large area and sprawling.

Taking into account the pillar of Hajj in Islam, and

overcome all the difficulties that were exposed to the

pilgrims, Sultan Abdul Hamid in September 1900 (June

first 1317 AH) has started work on a project to establish a

railway up to the Hejaz, during the celebration of the

twenty-fifth anniversary of his accession to the throne.

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Sultan Abdul Hamid appeal to all Muslim countries and Muslims all over

the world to raise funds to Hejaz rail way project construction, in order to

facilitate the transfer of Muslim pilgrims to the Holy Land in Hejaz/

Saudi Arabia. all Muslim countries at that time support Sultan Abdul

Hamid in the construction of HR which was (narrow (105 cm) weight of

a central (10.5 tons)), with total long (1303) km, the project was

completed in 1908. The maximum speed was 40 km / h while the normal

speed was 25 km / h for pilgrims trips.

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Estimated cost of the project about five millionOttoman gold liras which provided from:

1- Donations

2- Revenues of the Ottoman Empire:

- Sale of stamps

- Phosphate near Salt.

- Mineral water in Hamma area in Jordan.

3. Ottoman government impose a special tax for HR .

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The following factors reduced the expenses of

the project:

1- The use of military personnel in the project

construction.

2- The participation of many volunteers in the

construction stage.

3- Donated materials from adjacent areas of the line.

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The project also faced many difficulties:

1- Attacks of the southern Bedouin who opposed the project

2- High temperatures.

3- Diseases that affect the workers.

4- Lack of water sources.

5- The difficulty of transporting materials to the project

areas.

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The total number of HR stations are 59, starting from

Al- Kadam station in Damascus up to the last station

in Al-Madina Al- Munawara city with total length

(1302.5)KM , and the length of the JH section in

Jordan about (452).

The number of steam locomotives (130) and

passenger vehicles (116) The baggage and mail cars

(35) and one mosque vehicle and truck (1048) trucks

of various types.

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The line have been worked for seven years (1908-1914), the

highest number of passengers was transferred are (360 657) in

1914 (1332 AH) and the largest amount of goods that were

moving at a rate (3) trains a week note that the maximum power

line 10 trains.

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transported (112 007) tons in 1913 (1331 AH), and the trains were

Successive administrations to manage the line following

- Administration of Turkey: From 1900 to 1917AD

- Administration of the Government of the British Mandate over

Palestine represented in the management of railways in Palestine

until 1948 (1367 AH).

- Jordan Arab Army from 1948 until 1950 (1367-1369 H).

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- Jordanian civil administration fom1950 until 1952 (1367-1371

H).

- In 1952 (1371 AH) Jordan Hejaz Railway corporation (JHR)

was established and still up to these days responsible of manage

and invest property of HR within the territory of Jordan.

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Jordan Hijaz Railway Corporation

Jordan Hejaz railway corporation was established under

Jordanian Law No. (23) in 1952 AD (1371 AH), and

entrusted with the task of investing the Hejaz railway

property located within the territory of the Hashemite

Kingdom of Jordan from the Jordanian-Syrian border in

the north up to Al-Mudawara station in the south of

Jordan.

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- Transporting in a comfortable and safe conditions.

- Investment of the assets of JHR.

- Reserve the heritage of JHR .

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Development of JHR performance to achieve safe and

comfortable tourism by train and increase revenues from

JHR investments , and preserve the heritage.

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- Maintaining the continuity work of JHR and to maintain

his properties.

- Transporting goods and passengers from Jordan to Syria

and vice versa.

- Highlight the institution as befits its history linked on

modern Jordan.

- Management and investment property JHR.

- Strengthening the national economy by contributing to

the service of the transport sector for exports and imports.

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Following stations are spreadalong Jordan:

Al-Mafraq, Khirbet Al-Samra, Al-

Zarqa, Amman, Al- Qaser, Al-

Lubban, Al-Gizah, Dabb’a,

Khan Al- Zabib, Swaqah,

Al-Qatraneh, Al-Manzel, Al-Hasa,

Jurf Al-Darawish, Onaizah,

Jerdan, Maan, Bear Shideah,

Baten Al-Ghoul, Mudawarah.18

Al-Mafraq

Amman

Khirbet Al-Samra

Al-Zarqa

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Al-Qaser Al- Jizah

Dab’ah

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Al-Sowaqa

Al-Hasa

Jurf Al- Darawish Al- Qutranah

Khan Al-Zabib

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Al-Lubban

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Onaizah

- - Conduct various types of trains in order to meet the demands

of the public by various categories of trains, diesel and steam

through the reconstruction of locomotives and passenger

coaches and wagons for goods.

- - Maintain of railway infrastructure from north of Jordan up

to south to insure the safe movement of trains .

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- Preparation the JHR stations for investment and

marketing to the private sector for the establishment of

centers of attraction of the tourist hotels, restaurants and

entertainment centers.

- Restoration and expansion of the railway museum in

Amman station to reflect the history and heritage of Hijaz

line to be a center of attraction for foreign and domestic

tourism.

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- Strengthen the link between citizens and the font, the

institution in connection with establishment of the

Association of Friends of Hejaz railway to promote

awareness and culture of the role and importance of the

Hejaz railway in Jordanian society

- JHR and some of cement factories in Jordan studying a

possibility of the transfer cement to a number of cities

within Jordan and to Syria

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- Conversion of a number of old vehicles for use in different

areas of the capital and tourist areas in the Jordan as train

restaurant .

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In the end this is an invitation from Jordan Hejaz

Railway Corporation for interested in the tourism sector,

investors, businessmen and various institutions to

participate in JHR investment and to highlight the

important heritage of the Hejaz railway and historical

tourism.

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Dr.Malkawi@yahoo.com

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