|
The first
railway built in the Kingdom in 1366H (1947) according to the order of King
Abdulaziz to link Dammam port and Dharan-city with the eastern region. It was
executed under observation of ARAMCO to facilitate cargo transport from
Dammam port.
King Abdulaziz directed ARAMCO to perform
feasibility study in order to extend the railway to connect Riyadh-city,
Apgaig, Ehssa, and Al-Kharj through a number of cities which were built a
long the extension of the railway. In order to carry out this project, a
governmental department was established and its administration received from
ARAMCO in 1376 H (1952), then it was turned into general corporation by the
Royal Decree N0 m/3 on 22/1/1386 (20/3/1966).
The government draws great attention to
signify the role of corporation at the field of transportation and economical
progress. A number of projects were approved within the second plan (
95/1400H), therefore, a round SR 1,100,000,000 were approved in the fifth
plan to enhance investment in order to achieve a number of basic projects
such as renewal the old railway and carry out the dry port project.This period has witnessed great increase in passenger
transport as well as cargo transportation revenues. The optimistic vision for
the future of this activity continued. This optimism was enhanced by the
budget approved within the third fifth plan which reached SR 4.5 billions
used in completion of substructure and performing a number of basic projects
as follows:
· Duplication of railway between Dammam and Riyadh-city.
· Constructing direct railway between Hafuf–Khurais-Riyadh.
· Construction of three modern station for passengers in Dammam,
Hafuf and Riyadh
· Construction of new workshop for maintaining the railway.
· Execution of a number of projects to improve and renew the
railway.
The dry port project which was operated in
1402 H is deemed among the successful projects that have been achieved by the
corporation because this project affords the opportunity to the central
region businessmen to receive their cargo in Riyadh. Furthermore, this
project contributes in increasing the size of transportation a well as the revenues
as a result of increasing operation.
The Idea
of Constructing a Dry Port in RiyadhCity
The idea has come into being after the officials noticed that
most of cargo received in Dammam port was sent to Riyadh region. Moreover,
the imports were highly increased after the 1395H/1396H. This caused traffic
jamming in highway between Dammam and Riyadh due to continuous movement of
trucks. Accordingly, the idea of constructing railway station came into being
(dry port) to enable the importers in the central region to receive their
cargo coming through King Abulaziz port in Dammam at Riyadh-city by train.
Most of the officials agree with this idea, therefore a
feasibility study for the project was carried out designs and the required
specifications were set up. The service started gradually as an experimental
phase as of 1/6/1401H. Finally, the project was launched officially under the
custody of HRH the Governor of Riyadh on Sunday 20/7/1401H. The order for
transport through the railway from Dammam to Riyadh began to increase day
after day as a result of good and swift service through the new line.
Dry Port
Capabilities
The total area of the dry port in Riyadh before the current
expansion has reached 618,639 sq.m. in addition, to new expansion (eastern courtyard)
which covers an area of 300000 sq.m. This area was furnished with all
facilities including warehouses, storing yards, refrigerators as well custom
inspection sunshades as follows:
Six large warehouses, the size of each is 648 sq.m. Large
refrigerators with an area of 2700 sq.m. divided into sections of different
temperature according to the nature of the required coolness. Fast yard
allocated for uncovered storing in an area of 10000 sq.m., used for keeping
containers.Sunshades
for custom inspection, Number of workshops belong to equipments, offices,
customs broker offices, and ship agents are so close to the place of work.
Goals
and Features of the Project
· Organizing transport sectors between the eastern and central
regions as well as reducing the pressure on the highways.
· Carrying the cargo from Dammam to Riyadh with reasonable wage.
· Contributing in realizing the balance and stability in
transport wages.
· Saving time, effort and cost for businessmen.
· Enhancing safety and security factors for the businessmen.
Services
Provided by the Dry Port in Riyadh City
· Secured fast service for delivery of containers at the sites
or warehouses.
· Receiving all type of cargo.
· Preparing about 500 containers daily for custom view so that
it could be delivered to businessman.
· The capacity of the dry port 12500 containers per year.
Export
Operation
According to
superior directions that encourage exports and exploitation of facilities
available at the dry port in Riyadh, the railway general corporation started
a practical study to exploit the empty containers for packing with national
export to minimize the cost of exports in order to activate export movements
between the dry port in Riyadh-City and King Abdulaziz port at Dammam after
they have received the approval of the concerned authorities.
No doubt the
export operation has tangible advantage for corporation as well as for
businessmen. For the exploitation of the empty containers, the corporation
could used the capacity of four trains that depart Riyadh to Dammam daily
with about 560 containers loaded on 280 carriages. So, we expect high
increase in corporation revenues. On the other hand all national factories
and businessmen were able to export their cargo directly from the dry port in
Riyadh-City to outside world-wide without exerting any effort. They are no
longer responsible for their cargo once the procedures of shipping are
completed in Riyadh-City.
|
