THE Saudi Railway Company (SAR) has begun test operation of phosphate trains on the 1392km North-South Railway.
The first train carried 200 tonnes of phosphate from the mines at Al Jalamid to the processing site at Ras Az Zawr in four wagons. When the line is fully operational, trains will be 2.8km long with five locomotives and 160 wagons, carrying a payload of up to 16,000 tonnes.
THE Saudi Railway Company (SAR) has begun test operation of phosphate trains on the 1392km North-South Railway.
The first train carried 200 tonnes of phosphate from the mines at Al Jalamid to the processing site at Ras Az Zawr in four wagons. When the line is fully operational, trains will be 2.8km long with five locomotives and 160 wagons, carrying a payload of up to 16,000 tonnes.
Phosphate and bauxite trains will be operated by Rites, India, under a three-year contract.
Construction is now underway on the second 454km phase from Az Zabirah
Junction to Riyadh Airport, which will allow passenger services to
operate from Riyadh to Ha'il, and eventually Al Jawf. The project is
due to be completed in 2014.
