KUWAIT CITY, April 7: In a significant step toward regional connectivity, Minister of Public Works Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan signed a major railway development contract today in the presence of Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait Tuba Nur Sönmez. The agreement with Royapi Turkey, an international consulting firm, covers a comprehensive study, detailed design, and tender document preparation for the first phase of Kuwait's railway network.

This strategic project aligns with the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) vision to establish a 2,177-kilometer transnational railway network connecting all member states from Kuwait to Oman. The network will serve both passenger and freight transportation needs across the region.

The Kuwaiti segment of this ambitious project will feature a 111-kilometer track running from Shadadiya (site of the main Kuwait Railway Station on a 2 million square meter plot) to Nuwaiseeb. Minister Al-Mashaan emphasized that the contract signing followed all proper procedures, including approval from the Central Agency for Public Tenders and the Audit Bureau.

"With the design phase now underway, we will proceed to the implementation tender upon its completion," the Minister stated, marking a crucial milestone in Kuwait's infrastructure development.