PROJECT DEFINITION

This project is envisioned to create a new railway in Aqaba that will be utilized as part of the National Railway Project and at the same time caters to the transportation of exports and imports from Aqaba ports to proposed Dry Port in Ma’an and vice versa.

PROJECT LOCATION AND AREA 

The project is part of the Jordan National Railway considered as an alignment running along Aqaba back road and was optimized based on several technical and economic studies with comparison of options. The project connects with the existing railway with a  New alignment will start from the entrance of Aqaba city through Aqaba Wilderness Reserve to link the Southern Industrial Zone (SIZ) and Aqaba Container Terminal with the current Aqaba Railway. The length of this railway route is 35 km and the lengths of the first and second feeders that connect Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) and the Southern Industrial Zone (SIZ) are 7 km and 4 km respectively.

The Rehabilitation and singling system for the existing railway from Ma’an Dry Port with the entrance of the Aqaba city will be part of the project. 

PROJECT RATIONALE  

• The project will improve connecting railway network with Aqaba, Amman, other Jordanian governorates and the neighboring countries as well (Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Countries)
• Project offers freight services from and to activities being relocated in the southern part of Aqaba such as Aqaba Container Port (ACT), Heavy Industrial Zone, Aqaba marine port, and phosphate terminal
• Economics of railway transport contains economies of density where average costs reduce with increase in traffic volume and when integrating railway projects and make them part of a vertically integrated railway. The project will enjoy economies of scale as well as corporate overhead cost savings.
• 

PROJECT COMPONENTS

The length of this railway route is 35 km and the lengths of the first and second feeders that connect Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) and the Southern Industrial Zone (SIZ) are 7 km and 4 km respectively. The project consists of the railway structure and the train (Locomotives).

The railway network infrastructure includes:

·         Track and related parts.

·         Engineering structure (Bridges).

·         Train signaling.

·         Communication system.

·         Power supply.

·         Terminal infrastructure.

·         Two railway feeders connect the SIZ and Aqaba container terminal (ACT) with the main railway to enable continuity of transporting phosphates, general cargo, liquid bulk, fertilizers and other commodities efficiently.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The project aims at constructing a new narrow gauge railway track in Aqaba in addition to two railway feeders connect the SIZ and Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) with the main railway in order to continue transporting phosphate, general cargo, liquid bulk, fertilizers, and other commodities efficiently. Other sub-objectives of the project include, but not limited to:

·         Implementing a partial part of the National Railway Project.

·         Expanding Aqaba’s services to the entire country and neighboring countries (when the National Railway network is accomplished).

·         Transforming Aqaba into an important regional port, as well as the primary route for movement of Jordanian foreign trade.

·         Reducing the incurred costs and increasing the Return of Investment (ROI) for transporting commodities.

·         Transporting containers; which are labeled “to Iraq”, to Ma’an and then by trucks to Iraq.

·         Preventing double handling of containers.

·         Reducing cars and trucks accidents and increasing safety along highways.

·         Minimizing environmental effects caused by Wadi Elyoutom unloading station and sparing its construction cost.

SERVICES PROVIDED

The project will have two freight Routes as follows:

Route 1: From Amman to Ma’an to Aqaba:

This route provides freight services for the following types and annual quantities:

·         Phosphate: 4-5 Million Tons/year

·         Potash fertilizers: 50000 containers

·         Empty containers: 0.5 Million TEUs

·         Loaded containers: from QIZ area 100 containers

·         Others: 2 Million

Total for route 1: 12 million ton

Route 2: From Aqaba to Ma’an to Amman:

This route provides freight services for the following types and annual quantities:

·         Loaded containers: 0.5 Million

·         General Cargo: 2 Million Ton

·         Live stock 100,000 heads

·         Liquid bulk: 1 Million Ton

·         Grain: 2 Million Ton

·         Others: 2 Million Ton

Total of route 1: 8 Million Ton

PROJECT ROUTES

Aqaba New Route

PROJECT ROUTES

Aqaba New Route / Section One

PROJECT ROUTES

Aqaba Container Terminal Feeder / Section Two

PROJECT ROUTES

Aqaba New Port & Phosphate Feeder / Section Three