Speaking exclusively to Oxford Business Group (OBG), the global publishing, research and consultancy firm, Jabara Al-Seraisry said that the service would play a significant role in expanding international trade and investment opportunities.

“The North-South railway will start from our border with Jordan, connecting a number of cities in the Kingdom to Riyadh and linking up to the existing railway to Dammam,” he said.

“Syria and Jordan also have a rail network connected to Turkey, which in turn is constructing a railway to Europe. This means that we can connect the Kingdom to Europe via these countries.”

The rail developments form an integral part of the government’s wider plans to reduce traffic problems and increase the lifespan of the Kingdom’s roads.

Al-Seraisry believes that the creation of an efficient public transport system and better access to smaller cities will also encourage people to consider living further away from their workplaces.

Although Saudi Arabia’s government has taken over the funding of some of its infrastructure projects following the decision by international banks to pull financing for certain developments, Al-Seraisry is confident that the move does not spell the end for public-private partnerships.