Minister of Transport Dr. Nidal Al-Qatamin on Wednesday inaugurated a restored steam locomotive that the staff of the Hejaz Railway Corporation successfully refurbished and brought back into operation after being idle for nearly 40 years.
اضافة اعلان
During his visit to the corporation, the minister was briefed on the progress of the Hejaz Railway Museum project, which has reached about 80 percent completion and is expected to open to visitors during the first half of next year. The museum will showcase historical artifacts that document the national narrative and highlight the railway’s role in Jordan’s history.
Dr. Al-Qatamin listened to a briefing from Dr. Zahi Khalil, Director General of the Jordan Hejaz Railway Corporation, on the institution’s current operations and future plans. These include regular tourist train services, operating three weekly trips from Amman to Mafraq and Amman to Al-Jeezah, as well as plans to organize tourist journeys within Wadi Rum and from the Jardanah area north of Ma’an to the palace of the late King Abdullah I. The corporation also aims to boost domestic tourism and enhance the Hejaz Railway’s standing as a cultural and historical landmark.
In the presence of Ministry Secretary-General Fares Abu Diyeh and several directors from the ministry and the corporation, Al-Qatamin underscored the historical significance of the railway, which embodies a deep-rooted Hashemite and Jordanian heritage. He stressed the importance of preserving and maintaining the railway’s historic buildings and facilities, and utilizing them to highlight national and cultural symbols.
The minister also called for further institutional development and resource investment to fulfill the corporation’s transport and tourism objectives, emphasizing the need to adopt digital transformation and strengthen the technological infrastructure across administrative and technical operations.
The visit comes as part of a series of field tours the Minister of Transport is conducting to assess the status of affiliated institutions and their development projects, identify challenges and needs, and ensure the advancement of Jordan’s transport sector across all modes.
— (Petra)
