Hedjaz Railway, Ottoman railway line between Damascus and Medina, Jordan and Syria.
The Hedjaz Railway is an Ottoman railway line between Damascus and Medina in Jordan and Syria, running roughly 1,300 kilometers (808 miles) through desert terrain. Along the route, old stations, bridges and tunnels remain as evidence of the original project's scale.
Sultan Abdülhamid II ordered construction between 1900 and 1908 to reduce the journey from Damascus to Medina from 40 days to 5 days. Attacks during World War I damaged parts of the infrastructure, and the line was never fully restored afterward.
Muslim communities worldwide donated to help pilgrims reach Mecca more easily, and the route connected religious centers through the desert. The name Hejaz refers to the western region of the Arabian Peninsula, which was the destination of these journeys.
Several sections of the old track are preserved and can be visited, with some stations displaying exhibitions on engineering and operations. Accessibility varies by region, and it is helpful to check local guidance before setting out.
T.E. Lawrence and Arab forces repeatedly attacked the line during World War I, and many bridges and sections were blown up. Some of these damaged structures remain visible, recalling the military events of that period.
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