Lebanon’s government plans to revitalize its defunct railway network, seeking to improve connections with Syria and Iraq and leverage China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Advocacy groups push for this project, emphasizing its potential economic benefits through improved trade and transportation. However, challenges remain due to political and financial instability, despite some governmental support emerging for railway revival efforts.
Lebanon’s new government aims to revive its outdated railway network to enhance connectivity with Syria and Iraq and become a vital link in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Historically, the railway system once linked Beirut to Damascus and Haifa but became defunct after the Lebanese civil war in 1975. Despite multiple revival proposals over the years, progress has stalled due to political instability and economic crises permeating the nation since 2019.
Carlos Naffa, from the advocacy group “Train Train,” highlights the railway’s historical significance, noting the first official train trip from Beirut to Damascus occurred on August 3, 1895. He criticizes government corruption and negligence, citing events like the Beirut Port explosion as indicators of mismanagement in infrastructure projects. Naffa feels that without international collaborations and formal proposals from global railway firms, Lebanon’s progress in restoring the railway is impeded.
Naffa emphasizes that the potential of Arab transit trade, exceeding $200 billion annually, cannot be monopolized by existing regional facilities. He mentions the 2003 ESCWA Corridor agreement, stating it could significantly benefit the European economy while enhancing trade routes between the East and the West. Naffa’s insights indicate a pressing need to activate the ESCWA Corridor agreement to elevate tireless regional connectivity and minimize trade bottlenecks.
He outlines a comprehensive transport plan proposed by Train Train to connect all Lebanon’s regions, which will be presented to new President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Naffa advocates for public-private partnerships to finance railway restoration, positing that such a project could be essential for Lebanon’s economic reconstruction by improving connectivity and attracting foreign investments.
China’s BRI has emerged as a leading global infrastructure investor, especially in the Middle East, with significant allocations amounting to $22 billion in early 2022. Despite a slight decline in spending, the region received 57% of overall funding, with Saudi Arabia as a primary beneficiary. Reviving the railway could place Lebanon at a strategic advantage in BRI plans, enhancing international trade and economic recovery.
Although international interest is noticeable, Lebanon’s railway revival is obstructed by political volatility and financial limitations. Dialogues about foreign investments have remained largely private, revealing entrenched political motivations. Civil society groups, such as the National Network for Transport Justice, continue to monitor the transport projects’ integrity, emphasizing the need for reliable and transparent governance in these endeavors.
Naffa argues that any railway initiative must integrate a sustainable long-term plan that fosters economic development and social equity. The prospective network is poised to link key locations, like the Bekaa Valley and Eastern Lebanon, potentially connecting Lebanon with Syrian and Iraqi transport routes.
In January, local reports indicated a renewed commitment, with officials backing plans to revive the railway system, reconnecting Beirut and Tripoli while extending to Syria and Iraq. Parliament’s Public Works Committee head Sajee Atiyya asserted the vital nature of this project, hoping for fruition following Aoun’s election.
Reviving Lebanon’s railway network holds the potential to enhance regional connectivity, boost economic growth, and integrate the nation into global trade networks. Despite existing challenges, efforts led by advocacy groups and supportive government officials suggest a renewed commitment to this infrastructure project. The railway’s historical context and strategic position as part of the BRI offer a pathway for Lebanon to contribute to and benefit from increased regional trade and development.
Original Source: www.intellinews.com
