AMMAN (Petra) - Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria agreed on Wednesday to carry out a joint study in the next few weeks to consider utilising the Hijaz Railway, which crosses through the three countries.

The remarks were made at a meeting yesterday for the higher commission of the Hijaz Railway in the presence of Minister of Transport Alaa Batayneh, his Saudi counterpart Jobara Soraisri and Syrian counterpart Yarob Badr.

In a statements to the press, Batayneh said the three-way meeting is part of ongoing coordination between the three countries regarding railway linkage.

Batayneh, who said Iraq will soon float a tender for railway linkage with Jordan and Syria, added that the joint study will stipulate the rights of each involved country.

The Hijaz Railway is old and in need of repair to be in line with international railway standards, Batayneh said, adding that the railway, is currently used for ferrying passengers and transporting goods between Amman and Damascus.

The railway, which was originally constructed in 1908, was built at an estimated five-million Ottoman gold liras.

Yesterday’s meeting, the first after seven years, also focused on mechanisms to involve the private sector in the railway linkage between the three countries.

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Nader Dahabi met with the two visiting ministers.

The premier highlighted the importance of cooperation and coordination between Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria to benefit from the railroad, which is currently run by administration representing the three countries.