Work is currently under way on the 'initial design' of the groundbreaking high-speed railway project linking Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, to transport passengers and goods, reported Arab Times.

The move comes following the go-ahead from The Project Management Committee of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for the outcomes of the financial, economic, technical, and social feasibility study for the project. International companies will then be invited to contribute at this stage, stated the report, citing a source.

The actual implementation of the project, extending from Shaddadiyah in Kuwait to Riyadh, will begin in 2026 for completion in four years. Once operational, the railway is expected to carry 3,300 passengers daily with six round trips, covering about 500 km in one hour and 40 minutes.