Rasamny oversees cooperation protocol to assess revival of Tripoli–Syrian border rail link
1/24/2026 12:58:00 PM
Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny oversaw the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Railway and Public Transport and the Tripoli Port Authority at the Railway Authority’s headquarters in Gemmayzeh, Beirut. The agreement falls within a broader strategy aimed at strengthening cooperation among public institutions and enhancing integration between transport systems, particularly through assessing the potential reactivation of the railway line linking the Port of Tripoli to the Lebanese–Syrian border.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Chairman–Director General of the Railway Authority Ziad Chaya and members of its board, the Chairman of the Board of Tripoli Port Iskandar Bandali and board members, Tripoli Port Director General Dr. Ahmad Tamer, Government Commissioner to the Council for Development and Reconstruction Ziad Nasr, Presidential Adviser for Technical Affairs Brig. Gen. Ghassan Moufti, along with representatives of concerned associations.
In his remarks, Chaya said the protocol represents an advanced model of institutional cooperation based on complementarity and realistic planning, stressing that the forthcoming study will provide the scientific and economic foundation for informed decision-making on subsequent phases.
For his part, Minister Rasamny underscored that public transport is a national priority with direct economic, developmental and social implications. He explained that the protocol establishes an organized institutional framework to evaluate the feasibility of reviving the Tripoli–border rail corridor as a productive public asset, based on technical and economic data rather than ad-hoc estimates.
Rasamny noted that rail transport should be assessed through comprehensive economic feasibility, factoring in indirect costs such as time loss, fuel consumption, accidents, pollution and productivity decline. He highlighted that studies show every dollar invested in public transport generates an estimated $1.60 in economic returns.
Rasamny further stressed that large-scale rail projects require substantial capital investment and that public-private partnerships, under Lebanon’s PPP law, offer the most suitable implementation framework. The minister added that Tripoli Port was selected as a starting point due to its natural connection to the Syrian rail network, limited encroachments along the route, and existing rail infrastructure within the port area, which facilitates integration between maritime and rail transport.
The protocol provides for a comprehensive feasibility study covering investment and operating costs, projected demand, technical and institutional requirements, risk assessment and implementation options. Rasamny affirmed that no execution phase would be launched before the study is fully completed, reiterating the ministry’s commitment to structured planning, reform-driven investment, and sustainable long-term economic development.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Chairman–Director General of the Railway Authority Ziad Chaya and members of its board, the Chairman of the Board of Tripoli Port Iskandar Bandali and board members, Tripoli Port Director General Dr. Ahmad Tamer, Government Commissioner to the Council for Development and Reconstruction Ziad Nasr, Presidential Adviser for Technical Affairs Brig. Gen. Ghassan Moufti, along with representatives of concerned associations.
In his remarks, Chaya said the protocol represents an advanced model of institutional cooperation based on complementarity and realistic planning, stressing that the forthcoming study will provide the scientific and economic foundation for informed decision-making on subsequent phases.
For his part, Minister Rasamny underscored that public transport is a national priority with direct economic, developmental and social implications. He explained that the protocol establishes an organized institutional framework to evaluate the feasibility of reviving the Tripoli–border rail corridor as a productive public asset, based on technical and economic data rather than ad-hoc estimates.
Rasamny noted that rail transport should be assessed through comprehensive economic feasibility, factoring in indirect costs such as time loss, fuel consumption, accidents, pollution and productivity decline. He highlighted that studies show every dollar invested in public transport generates an estimated $1.60 in economic returns.
Rasamny further stressed that large-scale rail projects require substantial capital investment and that public-private partnerships, under Lebanon’s PPP law, offer the most suitable implementation framework. The minister added that Tripoli Port was selected as a starting point due to its natural connection to the Syrian rail network, limited encroachments along the route, and existing rail infrastructure within the port area, which facilitates integration between maritime and rail transport.
The protocol provides for a comprehensive feasibility study covering investment and operating costs, projected demand, technical and institutional requirements, risk assessment and implementation options. Rasamny affirmed that no execution phase would be launched before the study is fully completed, reiterating the ministry’s commitment to structured planning, reform-driven investment, and sustainable long-term economic development.