RIYADH, 17 January 2008 — A British railway sector delegation is currently in the Kingdom to explore opportunities in building urban railways in the capital.
Tim Gray, international business development director of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), who is leading a 15-member delegation, said setting up urban railways in the city would ease traffic congestion here. He pointed out that such a network within the city limits will not only help the people who do not have vehicles but would also help others as a quick mode of transport without any traffic jams.
“We have discussed this matter with concerned officials and they have shown interests in such a project that would help people and goods to be ferried without loss of time,” he said. Gray also met with the key officers at the Ministry of Transport and discussed ways and means of cooperating with each other.
The leader said that delegation represents officials from 15 companies under RIA who have the expertise in technology, techniques, operations and maintenance of the railway sector. The purpose of the mission is to share British skills and expertise with Saudi partners, who are involved in the upcoming railway projects in the Kingdom, he added.
During its stay in the eastern province, the delegation met with the key officials of the Saudi Railway Organization and expressed the group’s support and cooperation in its programs. The team will also visit Jeddah during this week.
RIA’s 140-member companies include major international groups and many specialist businesses offering a wide range of equipment, services and expertise . It also offers service for sourcing equipment, services and expertise from the United Kingdom.
British Ambassador to the Kingdom William Patey, who was present at the reception held in honor of the visiting delegates at a city hotel on Monday, said it is good to see representatives from British railway companies here, when the Kingdom is expanding its railway network and investing in developing its infrastructure.
“This is a good opportunity for us to develop stronger economic relationship with the Kingdom in a field that is very important to Saudi Arabia,” the envoy said. The urban railway proposal in the major cities of Riyadh and Jeddah will directly benefit the people in their day-to-day life, he added. He expressed the readiness of British companies to participate in the Kingdom’s railway projects as well as programs that provide rail link with other Gulf countries.
The visit was sponsored by UK Trade and Investment in association with RIA.