Railway Tender Launched for Tripoli-Abboudiyeh Line Upgrade

Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamny, has officially launched a tender for the design and modernization of a railway line stretching from the Port of Tripoli to the Abboudiyeh area on the Lebanese-Syrian border. The tender documents were signed during a visit to the port, attended by the port’s board chairman, Dr. Eskandar Kosti Bendali, along with board members, the director general of the Railway and Shared Transport Authority, Ziad Nasr, and other officials including the head of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Toufic Dabbousi, and the head of the Tripoli Special Economic Zone, Hassan Dannaoui.

The project aims to bolster the port’s role as a regional transit hub and provide a competitive logistics option through rail transport, with the goal of stimulating commercial activity and developing the transportation sector. Discussions during the visit focused on the economic and logistical objectives of the Tripoli-Abboudiyeh railway line.

Project Details and Economic Vision

During a press conference, Rasamny announced the formal launch of the tender, emphasizing the importance of reactivating railway projects to support the national economy and improve transport infrastructure. He stated that the idea to revive the railway between Tripoli and Abboudiyeh originated from the Railway Authority in collaboration with the Port of Tripoli, noting that a cooperation protocol had been signed months earlier and work was underway to update the project’s specifications.

Rasamny highlighted the strategic location of northern Lebanon, asserting that the state’s duty is to create commercial opportunities that lead to job creation and economic prosperity. He noted that the government is reviving projects and studies from the 1960s and 1970s, as the train line between Tripoli and Abboudiyeh stopped operating in 1975. Other vital projects in the north include the Rashid Karami International Fair, the special economic zone, and the development of the President Rene Moawad Airport.

The minister stressed that the presence of the port, the free economic zone, and the airport makes it natural to establish a railway line connecting the port to the Syrian interior. He revealed that the Cabinet and the Higher Council for Privatization have recently approved three key projects, including the privatization of airport management, arguing that the state lacks the necessary resources and investments to manage public facilities properly.

Rasamny emphasized the government’s work to expand public-private partnerships after amending the law to facilitate such collaborations. He explained that any future project would be based on economic feasibility, stating, “The important thing is to start; if economic feasibility exists, the investor will come.”

Regarding the railway project specifically, Rasamny pointed to the importance of connecting Lebanon to major regional projects. He confirmed Lebanon’s participation in regional meetings concerning railway links between Syria, Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, and efforts to include Lebanon in these reconstruction and economic development initiatives.

Timeline and Security Concerns

The minister clarified that the study for the project is expected to be ready within six months, asserting that its economic feasibility is very clear for both freight and passenger transport. He expressed confidence that the north and Akkar regions are heading toward a period of significant economic prosperity.

On security and stability, Rasamny stressed that security remains the fundamental element for the success of any investment project. He affirmed that the government and the President are making every possible effort to stop the war and return displaced people to their homes, as no economic project can succeed without stability and security.

Rasamny also noted that the Railway Authority owns approximately ten million square meters of land, and work is ongoing to remove encroachments on this land in cooperation with the judiciary and security agencies to facilitate future studies and projects along the Tripoli-Abboudiyeh route.

In closing, Rasamny thanked the port’s board chairman and members for their efforts, offering his full support. He considered that the project’s launch would not have been possible without cooperation between the Lebanese government, the port administration, and all concerned parties. He also thanked the port director, Dr. Ahmad Tamer, praising his efforts over the past years, particularly during a period when the port operated with limited resources and without a full board.

Reactions from Officials

Toufic Dabbousi expressed pride in the Lebanese government and its performance, praising Minister Rasamny for what he described as achievements despite the country’s difficult circumstances. He stated that the Port of Tripoli represents not just the city but a resurrection for all of Lebanon, serving as a key lever for the national economy by supporting the treasury, creating jobs, and enhancing public-private partnerships.

Eskandar Bendali, for his part, said the port is the primary beneficiary of the railway project, as it will directly increase the volume of goods and containers, boosting the port’s competitiveness and attractiveness to international shipping lines and operators. He confirmed that feasibility studies form the foundation for any investor interested in the railway project, while the port’s role is limited to attracting business and expanding connections with global markets, with the Railway Authority responsible for operating and managing the line in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works.

The visit concluded with a tour of the container dock, where Rasamny and the accompanying delegation inspected the scanner device and its operation mechanism, before reviewing the port’s docks and facilities.