Gulf-Europe railway in planning stages

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The GCC could soon have its own railway link to Europe running via Syria and Turkey. (Getty Images)

The GCC is looking at plans for a railway connecting the Middle East to Europe via Turkey according to the Turkish ambassador to Bahrain, Osman Haldun.

The idea was originally mooted by the king of Bahrain, Haman bin Isa Al Khalifa, and has now been taken up by both the Turkish Government and the GCC, said Haldun.

Speaking to Construction Week, he said: "There are no confirmed details as yet, they are just in the early stages of planning, but this could be done in a very short time.

"Our government is working on it now and as soon as they are finished they'll make a proposal to the GCC.

"In terms of construction, a lot of countries will be involved and it's not a simple job, so with all the technical and logistical dimensions it will certainly take a few years to be completed."

Under the proposal, Haldun said half the project would be carried out by Saudi Arabia while the rest would be distributed among the other GCC states.

He said the line would probably go through Iraq or Syria and connect Turkey with a US $6 billion (AED22 billion) rail network being planned to link the GCC's six member states.

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