REVIEW OF LITERATURE
What is the importance of railways to GCC countries?
Despite the construction of railway infrastructure being expensive, it remains a very important transportation mode. The advantages of having a rail infrastructure are many and varied. The GCC rail network will be used to transport relatively bulky goods and at lower costs than other means of transport like road and air. Rail transport also operates more efficiently than other means of transport such as motor vehicles. GCC rail network will provide significant benefits relating to employment and local business growth.
Bulkiness of Goods and Lower Costs
The GCC rail network will be used to transport long haul bulky freight whose means of transport is currently motor vehicles. According to (Lowe & Altrairi, 2013, p. xx), the rail transportation of bulk solids and liquids and containerized cargo will be cheaper than road provided that the journey is over 500km. However, for shorter journeys, the overheads will erode this advantage.
Besides, by reducing cargo vehicles on the roads, wear and tear on said roads are reduced, thereby lessening maintenance costs Lowe and Altrairi.
Railways make better use of space for transporting people and freight. (Lowe & Altrairi, 2013, p. xx)
Operational Efficiency
Rail networks operate on relatively predictable time schedules and are less affected by traffic jams or vehicle breakdowns. Proper schedules mean goods transported by the GCC railway will reach their destinations as and when required.
Rail transport has less scope for disruption due to weather and climatic factors, as opposed to air and water transport.
Environmental Impact
Rail transport uses 60-80% less energy and results in 80% less carbon dioxide emissions than other transport forms. John G Lowe1 and Ibrahim Saud Altrairi2
Lowe and Altrairi also claim that by removing significant cargo from roads, waste emissions from vehicles that would otherwise be for transport are avoided. Lloyd and Ali support that rail investment in the GCC will eventually enable a greater volume of people and goods to be transported in a single journey, reducing the amount of heavy vehicle traffic on roads and lowering the average carbon footprint per journey/
Rail transport is also much safer and causes less noise pollution (Frost & Sullivan, 2011).
Reduce urban congestion
Gulf countries are witnessing an annual population growth of 5%–8% such that urban areas are facing increasing congestion M. Emad Motieyan Najar & A. Khalfan Al Rahbi 654-65. In countries where the GCC railway will be used for passenger transport, it will reduce urban congestion. (Emad Motieyan Najar & Khalfan Al Rahbi, 2017, p. xx)
Employment and Local Business Growth
The GCC Railway Project creates employment for engineers, technicians, and other professionals. According to (Lloyd & Al-Ali, 2018, p. xx), the GCC Railway Project is set to be one of the largest contemporary cross-border rail networks in the world, with an estimated cost of over US$240 billion.
Completed railway hubs will require staff for operation and maintenance. Retail outlets at such hubs will also benefit from the huge volume of passenger traffic passing through.
Furthermore, the more efficient and cost-effective transport for people, goods, and services will contribute to developing tourism and commerce in the region, thus enhancing the region’s economy. (Lloyd & Al-Ali, 2018, p. xx)
rail is a high-quality national transport network that can give people access to a wealth of social and economic opportunities. It can support local economies, expanding labor markets, and encouraging new investment and development.
References
Emad Motieyan Najar, M., & Khalfan Al Rahbi, A. (2017). Investigation future planning of railway networks in the Arabs gulf countries. International Journal of Transport Development and Integration, 1(4), 654-665. doi:10.2495/tdi-v1-n4-654-665
Frost & Sullivan (2011) “Strategic Insight on the GCC Rail Sector”, downloaded from: http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/cio/223147048 retrieved on 19/3/2013
Lloyd, E., & Al-Ali, L. (2018). The development of rail infrastructure projects in the GCC. Al Tamimi & Compan.
Lowe, J. G., & Altrairi, I. S. (2013). The gulf cooperation council railway. Procs 29th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1147-1157.