The GCC countries are all set to sign the General Railway Agreement during a high-profile meeting of the region's transport ministers in Bahrain on November 8, thus marking a significant step toward accelerating one of the region’s largest joint transportation projects.

Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, emphasized that accelerating the project has become a Gulf priority, highlighting the importance of coordination among the six member states and the completion of the regulatory and legislative frameworks required to operate the network.

As per the announced specifications, passenger trains will reach speeds of approximately 200km per hour, while freight trains will operate at speeds ranging from 80 to 120km per hour, according to BETH Analysis.

The project is scheduled to become fully operational by December 2030, with the possibility of launching completed cross-border sections between neighboring countries ahead of that date, it added.

According to experts, the project’s significance extends beyond reducing travel distances between Gulf cities. 

It aims to establish a unified land transport corridor supporting trade, tourism, and logistics, while connecting ports, industrial zones, and markets across the Gulf region.

The railway network is also expected to cut freight transportation costs, provide additional travel options, and stimulate investment in transportation, warehousing, and related services, it added.

According to BETH Analysis, sealing of the agreement represents an important regulatory milestone. 

However, the project's ultimate success will depend on the member states' adherence to implementation schedules, the integration of border and operational systems, and the transformation of the network into a unified Gulf transportation system, it added.