Hejaz Railway Quiet Demise
If you want to be notified the next time I write something, sign up for FREE email alerts or subscribe to the RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Early last century, the biggest threat to the Hejaz Railway was Britain’s T.E. Lawrence and his camel-mounted Arab rebels, who sabotaged the desert track to attack trains packed with Turkish soldiers.
Today, a lack of passengers and improved highways may kill off the Hejaz Train once and for all, a quiet demise for a train that entered popular imagination thanks to Lawrence’s war exploits, later turned into the classic film “Lawrence of Arabia.”
On one recent morning, only four passengers climbed aboard for the Amman-Damascus trip through Jordan’s ochre deserts and Syria’s fertile plains, the railway’s only surviving service.
The 175-km (109 miles) journey takes 2-1/2 half hours by car, but on the Hejaz Train it can last anywhere from seven to 10, depending on seemingly endless delays at local stations and emergency stops to remove goats and vagrants from the tracks.
Built by the Ottoman Sultan during the golden era of railways in the 1900s, the Hejaz ran for 1,300 km (812 miles) from Damascus to Medina, ferrying pilgrims to Islam’s holy sites and troops to rebellious Arab provinces under Ottoman rule.
The line opened in 1908, spelling the end of the old camel caravan, in which pilgrims rode for two months from Damascus to Medina, compared to three days on the train, which had luxury cars for the Sultan and his entourage.
Enjoy this post? Get future updates sent to you for free! Join by 
5 Comments on “Hejaz Railway Quiet Demise”
Ooh, I was actually about to blog about this last week. I think it’s sad how it’s facing quite demise. I agree that it’s not the most practical travelling option, but still, it’s such a rich part of history that it ought to be turned to a national heritage object or something. We’re completely overliooking the historical importance of the Hijaz railway!
Yes, i agree with this comment and would like to interview people for a film about the railway. Does anyone know people who would like to talk. ie. someone who has a parent or grandparent who worked on building the railway or particpated in sabotaging it in World War I.
Does anyone know if it’s still possible to ride this (Hijaz or Hedjaz) Railway for at least a few miles in the Amman area? Will there be any other rail options — I don’t really care if
they are quite short —during a proposed visit between April 7 and 11, 2006?
John Emery, Chicago, IL, USA
Yes they are still possible. But I’m not sure of the route it takes. Maybe you can check once you are in Amman from the tourism desk at the hotel you are staying at.