First phase of 'marine railway' project study completed

The initial study of the first phase of a "marine railway" project, that connects the UAE with middle Asian and east European markets through the sea, has been completed.

Taiseer Salamah, Manager of Global Resources Co., a Dubai-based trading company which thought up the idea of the marine railway project, told Gulf News that they have completed the initial detailed studies of the first phase of the project which is expected to be carried out in April 2002.

"Since the UAE is the gateway to the Gulf, my project of a marine railway talks about connecting Jebel Ali seaport, or any other seaport in the UAE, with Bander Abbas seaport in Iran. A train will be loaded on a huge vessel or ferry, which would then unload it at a railway station inside the other port," said Salamah.

He pointed out that his project will help connect the Gulf to Europe, Asia and Russia and could reduce the time taken to transport goods through middle Asia from 45 days to four only.

"We have completed the initial studies of the project in cooperation with some Iranian and Russian companies. Construction is expected to start as soon as we finish the final studies of the whole project in April 2002," he added.

He said that the marine railway project is divided into two phases, the first of which is expected to cost around Dh200m.

"The first phase, which has not started yet, is aimed at connecting Jebel Ali seaport with Bandar Abbas seaport in Iran, while the second phase, which has already been completed by Iran, connects Bandar Abbas seaport with the seaports of six to seven countries overlooking the Black Sea," said Salamah.

"After completing the final studies of the project, a local company will be established to handle the construction work of the marine railway, which will encourage people to use this safe transportation means. It will also be an attractive method of travel for tourists who want to visit middle Asia and Europe by train," said Salamah.

Once the marine railway is completed, anyone can send a truck fully-loaded with commodities to Iran or any city in east Europe and middle Asia without unloading the goods from the truck.

"The marine railway project could be carried out without the need to wait for the comprehensive railway network throughout the UAE to be constructed first," said Salaham.