Saudi-SRO discusses draft budget

The board of directors of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has discussed the draft budget and new railway projects for the year at its first meeting for the fiscal 2014-2015 at its headquarters in Dammam.
The meeting chaired by Minister of Transport and Chairman of the SRO Board Abdullah Al-Muqbil reviewed the railway projects under implementation.
SRO President Muhammed Al-Suwaiket said the SRO is currently implementing a number of projects with the goal of raising the railway's operating efficiency improving the level of maintenance safety and security control at all railway networks besides the projects to update and expand the organization's fleet of passenger trains and freight service.
'The important projects currently under way include doubling the passenger line between Hofuf and Riyadh developing classification of coaches in Dammam renovating 50 km freight line and upgrading the system as well as controlling signals between Dammam and Riyadh and establishing a maintenance workshops complex in Dammam' Al-Suwaiket said.
He added that the projects include the construction of new bridges for all passenger line intersections and ensuring four more sets of latest locomotives and crews and to renovate and improve several railway lines and the construction of a road along the railway line.
'The projects approved in the draft budget for the current year include the implementation of a number of important projects including acquisition of modern commuter trains improvement of passenger terminals and obtaining wagons for transporting containers grain and cement the construction of new bridges for all passenger intersections the partial renewal of the railway line No. 1 and a project to secure passenger lines with impenetrable fencing.
Source: Arab News