Dr. Abdullah Malkawi, Assistant General Director of Jordan Hejaz Railway, discusses the history and future plans of the railway. The Hejaz Railway was constructed in 1900 under Sultan Abdul Hamid II to facilitate Hajj pilgrimages. It connected Damascus to Medina. While it operated until 1917, Jordan Hejaz Railway Corporation now manages and invests in railway assets within Jordan. It aims to develop tourism and transport along the historic line through restoring locomotives, coaches, and stations.

1. Jordan Hejaz Railway
Reality & Aspiration
Dr.Abdallah Malkawi
Assistant General Director of Jordan
Hejaz Railway
5-7/10/2015 Dubai
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4. Arab region is witnessing these days a rapid development
in the field of transport . The leaders of the Arab countries
took strategic decision in linking all Arab countries with
railway. we look forward to the day when Arab world will
connect with Europe via Jordan, Syria, Turkey and in the
end with Europe with a modern rail system with
international standards.
Although I will talk to you today about the oldest railway
line from fragrant history of the Arab region, which have
been established 115 years ago in 1900 AD of the last
century, the Hejaz railway, which represents an era of our
history and might the latest revolution in the transport
sector at that time.
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5. Railways in the past and the present are very important for
countries with large area .
Taking into account the pillar of Haj in Islam, and
overcome all the difficulties that were exposed to the
pilgrims, Sultan Abdul Hamid in September 1900 has
started work on a project to establish a railway up to the
Hejaz, during the celebration of the twenty-fifth
anniversary of his accession to the throne.
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6. Sultan Abdul Hamid appeal to all Muslims all over the world to raise
funds to Hejaz rail way project construction, in order to facilitate the
transfer of Muslim pilgrims to the Holy Land in Hejaz/ Saudi Arabia. all
Muslim countries at that time support Sultan Abdul Hamid in the
construction of HR which was (narrow (1050 mm) , (10.5 tons)), with
total long (1303) km, the project was completed in 1908. The maximum
speed was 40-50 km / h .
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7. Estimated cost of the project about five million
Ottoman gold liras which provided from:
1- Donations
2- Revenues of the Ottoman Empire:
- Sale of stamps
- Phosphate near Salt.
- Mineral water in Hamma area in Jordan.
3. Ottoman government impose a special tax for HR .
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8. The following factors reduced the expenses of
the project:
1- The use of military personnel in the project
construction.
2- The participation of many volunteers in the
construction stage.
3- Donated materials from adjacent areas of the line.
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9. The project also faced many difficulties:
1- Attacks of the southern Bedouin, who opposed the project
2- High temperatures.
3- Diseases that affect the workers.
4- Lack of water sources.
5- The difficulty of transporting materials to the project
areas.
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10. The total number of HR stations are 59, starting from
Al- Kadam station in Damascus up to the last station
in Al-Madina Al- Munawara with total length
(1303)KM , and the length of the JH section in Jordan
about (452).
The number of steam locomotives (130) , passenger
vehicles (116) , mail vehicles (35) , one mosque vehicle
and (1048) wagons for goods.
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11. The line have been worked for seven years (1908-1914), the
highest number of passengers transferred was (360 657) and
the largest amount of goods that were
moving at a rate of (3) trains a week note that the maximum
power line 10 trains.
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transported (112 007) tons in 1914, and the trains were

12. Successive administrations to manage the line following
- Administration of Turkey: From 1900 to 1917AD
- Administration of the Government of the British Mandate over
Palestine represented in the management of railways in Palestine
until 1948 .
- Jordan Arab Army from 1948 until 1950 .
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13. - Jordanian civil administration fom1950 until 1952 .
- In 1952 Jordan Hejaz Railway corporation (JHR) was
established and still up to these days responsible of manage and
invest property of HR within the territory of Jordan.
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14. Jordan Hejaz Railway Corporation
Jordan Hejaz railway corporation was established under
Jordanian Law No. (23) in 1952 AD (1371 AH), and
entrusted with the task of investing the Hejaz railway
property located within the territory of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan from the Jordanian-Syrian border in
the north up to Al-Mudawara station in the south of
Jordan.
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15. - Transporting in a comfortable and safe conditions.
- Investment of the assets of JHR.
- Reserve the heritage of JHR .
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16. Development of JHR performance to achieve safe and
comfortable tourism by train and increase revenues from
JHR investments , and preserve the heritage.
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17. - Maintaining the continuity work of JHR and to maintain
his properties.
- Transporting goods and passengers from Jordan to Syria
and vice versa.
- Highlight the institution as befits its history linked on
modern Jordan.
- Management and investment property JHR.
- Strengthening the national economy by contributing to
the service of the transport sector for exports and imports.
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18. Following stations are spread
along Jordan:
Al-Mafraq, Khirbet Al-Samra, Al-
Zarqa, Amman, Al- Qaser, Al-
Lubban, Al-Gizah, Dabb’a,
Khan Al- Zabib, Swaqah,
Al-Qatraneh, Al-Manzel, Al-Hasa,
Jurf Al-Darawish, Onaizah,
Jerdan, Maan, Bear Shideah,
Baten Al-Ghoul, Mudawarah.
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19. Al-Mafraq
Amman
Khirbet Al-Samra
Al-Zarqa
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20. Al-Qaser Al- Jizah
Dab’ah
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Al-Sowaqa

21. Al-Hasa
Jurf Al- Darawish Al- Qutranah
Khan Al-Zabib
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22. Al-Lubban
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Onaizah

23. - - Conduct various types of trains in order to meet the demands
of the public by various categories of trains, diesel and steam
through the reconstruction of locomotives and passenger
coaches and goods trucks.
- - Maintain of railway infrastructure from north of Jordan up
to south to insure the safe movement of trains .
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24. - Preparation the JHR stations for investment and
marketing to the private sector for the establishment of
centers of attraction of the tourist hotels, restaurants and
entertainment centers.
- Restoration and expansion of the railway museum in
Amman station to reflect the history and heritage of Hejaz
line to be a center of attraction for foreign and domestic
tourism.
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25. - Strengthen the link between citizens and JHR, the
institution in connection with establishment of the
Association of Friends of Hejaz railway to promote
awareness and culture of the role and importance of the
Hejaz railway in Jordanian society
- JHR and some of cement factories in Jordan are studying
now a possibility of transferring cement to a number of
cities within Jordan and to Syria
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26. -Conversion of a number of old vehicles for use in different
areas of the capital and tourist areas in the Jordan as train
restaurant .
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27. In the end this is an invitation from Jordan Hejaz
Railway Corporation for interested in the tourism sector,
investors, businessmen and various institutions to
participate in JHR investment and to highlight the
important heritage of the Hejaz railway and historical
tourism.

28. Dr.Abdullah Malkawi
Jordan Hejaz Railway
Dr.malkawi15@yahoo.com
Info@jhr.gov.jo
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