I overheard lately that the government is considering reactivating the trains and tramways and restructuring the railways in order to lessen the daily traffic. I researched a bit about this and found out they have been considering doing so for more than 8 years now !
The last official news goes back to 2007 when the government was looking for funds to restore the Tripoli-Abboudieh railway.
Even though forgotten, railways in Lebanon are highly documented online. Almashriq has all you need to know on trains in Lebanon, from stations, to old pictures, maps etc.
Also, AFAC-Liban (Section Libanaise de l’Association Française des Amis des Chemins de fer) has a whole website dedicated to railways in Lebanon. They even organize exhibitions, publish books and attend social events.
It would be great to have a decent public transportation in Lebanon, as the traffic is becoming unbearable year after year.
Hey Najib,
Any idea if there is any current talk about the plan/if it will happen anytime in the near future?
~LZ
LaZaytouni,
As i wrote, i think its just talks now, but there is another plan that is being serious considered now and that a maritime transport from Tripoli to Beirut.
Check out pictures from the production that The BIM Project presented last summer, from August- September 2010, in train stations across Lebanon!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=69216787006&v=photos
A great initiative, in collaboration with Elias Malouf from Train/ Train Lebanon:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=131774613510922&v=wall
Wake up people from Lebanon and force the goverment to do what it has to do for the people in Lebanon. A public transport is a must.
People are stuck in traffic, suffer from pollution, suffer from being late, lots of anger and stress of car drivers. And who are the people who suffer? Of course not the 5% of the rich one who decide on the public transport in Lebanon, of course they don’t need it. The have drivers and appartments everywhere so they don’t bother. To suffer have the people they already have limited means.
People should stand together and ask strongly for it.
Immagine if one can go to work from Jbeil to Beirut every day on a comfortable stress free train ride in just 25 minutes?