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In light of the navigational disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz and the challenges it poses to trade movement and supply chains, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries signed, on Sunday, in Manama, the general agreement for the railway connection project, in a step aimed at establishing a common framework for implementing and operating the network, and enhancing the integration of transport systems between the six countries.

The agreement comes at a time when the importance of diversifying transportation and supply options is increasing, after navigational disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz and the sea lanes surrounding it showed the extent to which the movement of goods is affected by regional tensions, and the accompanying high shipping and insurance costs and the need for alternative routes. In this context, the Gulf train project emerges as part of a broader system of logistical integration, and not a substitute for maritime transport, which remains an essential component of the international and Gulf trade movement.

The agreement was signed under the patronage and presence of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and with the participation of the Ministers of Transport and Communications in the GCC countries, and the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, to form an organizational basis for cooperation between the member states in implementing a network extending about 2,117 kilometers, linking Kuwait with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the Emirates, all the way to the Sultanate of Oman, with the goal of being fully operational by December 2030.

The agreement specifies the obligations of member states and the work and coordination mechanisms between them, in addition to the technical and operational frameworks and safety requirements, to ensure the integration of the Gulf network with national railways.

The Bahraini Minister of Transportation and Communications, Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that each country will undertake the financing and implementation of the part located within its territory, explaining that the countries have not concluded prior agreements with international partners to finance or implement the project, and that the participation of international companies can be focused on providing expertise and technical and technological services, according to the needs of each country.

In an indication of the progress of work, Al Budawi announced that the completion rate in the Gulf Railway Project reached 55.9 percent, stressing that the agreement represents a common framework that regulates the obligations of member states in implementing and operating the project in an integrated manner, and determines the work mechanisms and timetable for its completion.

It is estimated that the network will transport about 6 million passengers and 200 million tons of goods in 2030, with the number of passengers rising to more than 8 million and the volume of freight to 271 million tons by 2045. The speed of passenger trains reaches 200 kilometers per hour, while the speed of freight trains ranges between 80 and 120 kilometers per hour.

Regarding the cost of the project, previous estimates for basic infrastructure ranged between $15.4 and $16 billion, but the Bahraini minister explained that these estimates are subject to review in light of the rising costs of building materials, services and construction work, without announcing an updated figure for the total cost.

In Bahrain, the implementation of the project is linked to plans to connect with Saudi Arabia via the proposed King Hamad Bridge, which includes a railway track alongside the land road, allowing the international passenger station in Bahrain to be linked to the Saudi train network. This connection constitutes one of the basic components of completing Bahrain's connection to the Gulf network.