Cameras to monitor Dammam-Riyadh railway 

The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has announced plans to install around 500 cameras to monitor its railway line from Riyadh to Dammam.
The cameras are expected to be installed before the end of the year.
Mohammed Al-Suwaiket, head of the SRO, said that the organization has opened the bidding process for the installation of the surveillance cameras, adding that they have received a number of offers, which are currently under review.

“We are expecting to begin work by the end of 2014. Around 500 cameras will be installed at specific locations such as stations, maintenance workshops, communication towers and electricity generators,” Al-Suwaiket said.
He noted that the project aims to protect the railway sites and devices from tampering, theft and to detect attempts to vandalize train stations.
Al-Suwaiket indicated that the SRO would conduct 12 trips a day, transporting around 3,000 passengers and an estimated 5,000 passengers during weekends.
“The organization is preparing to introduce four modern trains in the near future period to accommodate the increasing number of passengers traveling annually,” he added.
The head of SRO noted that the new train line from Riyadh to Bahrain via Dammam is part of an integrated project, which seeks to link the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and boost trade and economic ties.
The GCC railway track will begin from Kuwait, passing through Dammam to Bahrain and from Dammam to Qatar through Salwa Port. The line will link Bahrain and Qatar, and move from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates, down to Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain then finally to Muscat.
By a royal decree, the Ministry of Transport has been given permission to conduct detailed studies for the project. In addition, a technical team was created and assigned to prepare the engineering designs. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.
arabnews.com