Different Rail Track Widths Stand in the Way of Syria’s Transit Role

 

“Recent convoys via Syria have revived interest in its transit role. But trucks are one thing; rail is harder. A key obstacle is gauge mismatch: Jordan’s 1,050 mm tracks are narrower than Syria’s 1,435 mm network, requiring transloading and creating bottlenecks. Rail connectivity will need interoperable standards, transfer hubs, or adaptable rolling stock.”