Kuwait is about to enter a new era as regards public transport system. The Arab state plans to develop its own metro and rail transport network as part of the efforts of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council to improve public transport and connectivity between member states.
Another major project for Kuwait consists in the construction of the underground network along 171 km and 60 stations on the four main lines that will cross Kuwait City. The project could be carried out simultaneously with the metro networks in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Doha (Qatar).
The study for the development of the first phase of the metro network is almost completed and expects the approval of the High Commission for Government Projects before organising the tender. Works on this project will begin in 2013, the Government of Kuwait announced in October 2012. The finalization of the underground network is due in 2016.
One of Kuwait’s key infrastructure deve-lopment initiatives is the implementation of an advanced public transportation system. As such, the Ministry of Communication wishes to develop a railway system which will link Kuwait city to Kuwait airport, seaports, and other GCC countries. The project will enhance Kuwait’s regional integration, boost trade volume, and create new job opportunities.
The Kuwait National Rail Road System (the country doesn’t have a railway network yet) will be an integrated rail network with 511 kilometres double track total length. The Rail Road system will serve freight and passengers and will have a 120 km/h regional lines speed and a 200 km/h high speed. The project will be implemented as a build, operate, and transfer (BOT) agre-ement. The project is currently in the feasibility study phase.
The Government of Kuwait said it was planning to launch a special company for executing railway ventures, as part of the planned USD15 Billion GCC joint railway network, projected to be inaugurated by 2017, a senior Kuwaiti official announced for arabtimesonline.com.
“All member states of the GCC are planning to upgrade and expand their internal transport networks, including construction of railway lines, said Salem Al-Uthayna, the Minister of Electricity, Water, Acting Minister of Information and Communication, who also disclosed that Kuwait would establish, soon, a special company for executing projects in this transport sector. The future railway network in Kuwait will be connected to another 2,000km network (currently a project proposal) which will connect the network of the Persian Gulf to Iran and Iraq.
Kuwait’s railway network will be implemented via a joint-stock company, where 50% of the shares will be offered for sale to Kuwait citizens, 40% of the share will be owned by the Government and the rest of 10% by the Syndicate for Surface Transport in Kuwait.
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