Malcolm to get a railway

[52D]

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Work on the 1,315 mile railway linking Kuwait, at the head of the Gulf,
through Saudi Arabia, Bahrain. Qatar and United Arab Emirates to Oman
on the Indian Ocean, is expected to start early in 2010 and be completed
in 2017.
http://cnobbi.com/4349.html

[Malcolm]

Well, I'll go the foot of my socks. Didn't know that (don't read the newspapers).

Malcolm

[52D]

Its been on the cards for years but i dont know if it will come to fruition. The original line was to be a Saudi only line primarily as a freight/pilgrim mover with the option to extend to Iraq via Kuwait later on.
I dont know the exact route but presume it will enter Saudi territory at the coast next to an aramco site whose name escapes me for the moment and follow the coast down to Jubail with the line then going to Dammam via Rastanura. From Dammam it will be interesting as two massive viaducts will have to take the line from here to the Island of Bahrain then back to the Mainland before heading down to Oman.
Perhaps with all this activity the Saudis may fall back onto the original plan as well and link the existing railhead at Riyadh with Jeddah and Mecca then follow a rebuilt Hejaz up into Europe.