Railway Academy in Saudi to Facilitate GCC Network Training

It is estimated that 80,000 staff will be needed to operate the GCC Railway Network. The International Academy for Railway and Advanced Developments, Saudi Company for Railway Services, is planned to train workers and management at all levels of the operation.

The Academy, which will be built on the Riyadh to Dammam railway, will train staff in all sectors of the running of the network, from construction and signalling to operational management. Courses offered will take anything from a few weeks for basic labouring to 2.5 years for professional management.

As well as classroom based teaching, there will be workshops where trainees can get hands on experience and expertise in their various roles.

The firm building the Academy is in negotiation with Etihad Rail to discuss training their staff. UAE based Etihad Rail, which is constructing 1200 km of track alone, will be the main link in the new GCC Railway Network. 36 railway projects are either planned or under construction in the region, ranging from the Dubai Metro to a freight line bypassing the Straits of Hormuz in Oman.