Transport in Jordan
With the exception of a railway system, Jordan has a developed public and private transportation system. There are three international airports in Jordan. Railways are not commonly used for passenger transport in Jordan, the only passenger railway is that connecting Amman to Damascus in Syria.
Highways
In 2001 it was estimated that Jordan had 8000 km of paved highways. Some of the major highways in Jordan are:
Railways
Total: 507 km - narrow gauge of 1,050 mm (3 ft 5 1⁄3 in) (2008) Railway companies in Jordan are:
Future plans
The Jordanian government has begun acquiring land for new rail routes. Following a study by BNP Paribas, three routes are planned, which are expected to be tendered later in 2010. The three routes are:[1]
- From the Syrian border, via Zarqa, to the Saudi border; replacing part of the Hedjaz Railway;
- Connecting the first line to Aqaba, and from Mafraq to Irbid, replacing another part of the Hedjaz Railway;
- A link to the Iraqi border.
However, in late 2010 the government announced an economic relief package and following the 2011 Jordanian protests it was decided to reduce the expected three year capital investment plan in the national railway network by 72 percent, partly to fund the relief package.[2] Therefore, it is unclear when the ambitions railway expansion plan will be carried out.
There are also plans for a light rail system operating between Amman and Zarqa and a funicular and metro line in Amman.
Currently, two connected but non-contiguously operated sections of the Hedjaz Railway exist:
In August 2011, Jordanian government approved the construction of the railway from Aqaba to the Iraqi border (near Trebil). The Iraqis in the meantime started the construction of the line from the border to their current railhead at Ramadi.[3]
Timeline
- 2008- Proposals for international links. [4]
- 2006- Various rail proposals.[5]
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- The Israeli business newspaper Globes reported that in a meeting between the Israeli minister of transport, Shaul Mofaz and the Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv in November, the transport minister announced that European nations are interested in financing the construction of a Haifa-Irbid-Amman railway.
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- - Jordanian Transport Minister Saoud Nseirat responds to comments made on Monday, December 12, by Israeli Transport Minister Meir Shitrit. Shitrit had announced his intentions to propose a new standard gauge railway to connect Haifa, Israel, to Irbid, Jordan, passing through King Hussein Bridge and Jenin, a project that could cost as much as $300 million (for the Jordanian portion of the line). Nseirat responded to Shitrit's comments with a denial, stating that there have not been any discussions between the two nations on such a project and no plans for such a connection have been proposed by anyone in the Jordanian government. Shitrit plans to make his formal proposal at a conference for Mediterranean transport ministers in Marrakesh on December 20.[6]
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- - The Public Transport Regulatory Commission has entered into an agreement with a private sector consortium, following a competitive bidding process, to develop a light rail system between the Jordanian capital Amman and nearby industrial city of Zarqa. This light rail project, to be operational by 2011, will be the first urban rail public-private partnership (PPP) in the Middle East. The system will be operated using 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge) electrically propelled light rail vehicles on a double track. The total length of the LRS system will be approximately 25 kilometres. The majority of the LRS route, between Al-Mahatta (in Amman) and New Zarqa will be constructed within the existing Hedjaz Railway right-of-way (22.2 kilometres). The Public Transport Regulatory Commission estimates that the new system will carry about 45,000 passengers a day in its first year. Canada's CPCS was the lead advisor to the PTRC in this PPP transaction.
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- CPCS is also advising the Government of Jordan in the privatization of the Aqaba Railway Corporation, running from Ma'an to Aqaba. This railway is used to transport phosphate from mines located in Ma'an. The commission plans to modernize the old 1,050 mm (3 ft 5 1⁄3 in) narrow gauge railway and replace it with new track.
Pipelines
crude oil 209 km; note - may not be in use or be living
Ports and harbors
The port of Aqaba on the Gulf of Aqaba is the only sea port in Jordan.
Merchant marine
total: 7 ships (with a volume of 1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over) totaling 42,746 GRT/59,100 metric tons deadweight (DWT)
ships by type (1999): bulk carrier 2, cargo ship 2, container ship 1, livestock carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off ship 1 The governments of Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq own and operate the Arab Bridge Maritime company, which is the largest passenger transport company on the Red Sea.
Airports
(1999 est.): 20
Airports - with paved runways
As of 1999, there was a total of 16 airports, the main airports being:
total (1999): 16
over 10,000 ft (3,048 m): 9
8000 ft to 9,999 ft (2,438 to 3,047 m): 4
under 3,000 ft (914 m): 3
Airports - with unpaved runways
total (1999): 4
5,000 to 7,999 ft (1,524 to 2,438 m): 1
3,000 to 4,999 ft (914 to 1,523 m): 1
under 3000 ft (914 m): 2
Heliports (1999)
1
Maps
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the CIA World Factbook.
External links