Oman National Railway Project

Oman National Railway Project is a railway transportation network^{1 2} that runs across Oman, designed for both passenger travel and freight trains. It is initiated by the Oman Railway Companyⁱ, founded in 2014³ as a premier national company aims at connecting people⁴, trade and businesses within Oman as well as with the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regional network. The project aligns with the Oman Railway Company’s vison to “Establish a solid and efficient rail network system that bolsters the logistics industry’s share of the GDP, and positions Oman as the leading regional logistics gateway”⁵. The key goals of the Oman National Railway Project are to ensure a connected, prosperous and diversified⁶ economy, as well as promote sustainable urban expansion through⁷:

• Connecting major cities, port and natural resources areasⁱⁱ in Oman through a reliable and efficient rail network.
• Connecting this rail infrastructure to key regional and international trade destinations⁸ and GCC markets by linking it to a regional rail network⁹built jointly other GCC countries.
• Providing advanced transport capabilities.

The proposed Oman rail network map spans 2,224 kilometers¹⁰, crossing through mountains and deserts¹¹. It is designed for high-speed trains traveling at up 350 kilometers per hour for passenger transport and 200 kilometers per hour for freight¹². The network comprises a double track system with standard 1,435 mm gauge¹³. It includes 46 stations, eight marshalling yard, and nine intermodal yards connecting Oman’s major ports and cities, such as Muscat, Sohar, Duqm and Salalah as well as mineral resources to United Arab Emirates’ borders^{14 15}. The trains will operate on electrical power, supplied by electrical infrastructure that will be built along the entire length of the network¹⁶.

The Oman railway network has been divided into nine Segments¹⁷ planned to be constructed over nine phases. However, the key four phases are:

• First Phase: The proposed line stretches 242 kilometers from Sohar to Muscat, with stops for commuters at Sohar Port, Saham, Daqal, Al Khabourah, Al Hur, Al Hazm, Al Abyath, and Al Misfah. There are intercity stations built in Barka, Muscat, and Sohar City¹⁸.
• Second Phase: An additional 486 kilometers line will join the network and be built between Muscat and the Port of Duqm, which is currently under construction. Along this stretch, commuter stations will be built at Bid, Samayil, Izki, Ibri, Sinaw, and Mahawt, as well as an intercity station at Duqm¹⁹.
• Third Phase: This stage of the project aims to add a 166-kilometer line stretch from Sohar to Al Ain on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) side of the border. This line will include commuter stations in Wadi Jizzi and Sunayna, as well as an intercity station in Buraimi²⁰.
• Fourth Phase: A 646-kilometer line will be built from Duqm to Salalah, and a 58-kilometer extension of Batinah Line from Sohar to the UAE border at Khatmat Malaha. The Batinah Line will share a common corridor with the Batinah Expressway. Commuter stations at Liwa, Shinas, Al Aqar, and Khatmat Malaha are planned along this stretch²¹ .

The project is initiated and developed by Oman Railway Company, part of ASYAD Group^{22 iii}, established by Oman Ministry of Transport and Communications²³ that signed a contract with Italferr for the preliminary design of the entire railway network of the Sultanate of Oman²⁴. Oman rail company is responsible for the project implementation²⁵ where the overall estimated project cost $15bn²⁶ funded by the State of Oman²⁷which is Oman Global Logistics Group (OGLG)/ ASYAD²⁸ and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)²⁹.

Additionally, Oman Rail signed an agreement with Etihad Rail^iv, the developer and operator of the UAE national railway network, to establish the Oman and Etihad Rail Company. With a total value of $3 billion USD, this business is a joint venture that is co-owned by the two countries to build and operate a 303 kilometers efficient railway network³⁰. The network will link Sohar Port to the UAE National Rail Network in 100 minutes³¹. It will have two tracks for both freight and passenger travels, with speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour for passenger trains and 120 kilometers per hour for freight trains³². The landmark agreement aims to accelerate the expansion of each nation’s economy by increasing market competitiveness, lowering supply chain costs overall, and facilitating cross-border trade. Specifically, it will connect commercial ports to the railway network, which should boost trade flows between the two countries and the gulf region³³.