HOME | Hejaz Railway

Damascus, 1900... Rumours of a new railway to be built southwards through the desert to the Holy Cities of the Hejaz are running wild...

Dar al Hamra Station on the Hejaz Railway (Hijaz Railway)

Route Guide

Follow the track through Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria to discover stations, barracks, bridges, tunnels, rolling stock, pilgrimage forts and other features along the line.

First World War

Best known for the celebrated wartime campaign of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), Arab, British and French forces all played a major part in the fighting on the railway.

Construction

An epic 8-year building project through 1,300 km. of arid, mountainous terrain from Damascus to Medina, defies all the sceptics who had believed the railway to be impossible.

Jung locomotive on Hejaz Railway, bridge north of Amman

Rolling Stock

Locomotives and wagons imported from Europe can still be seen standing alongside the line or at stations where they were abandoned at the end of the First World War.

Map - The Hejaz Railway

Map of the Hejaz Railway (Hijaz Railway)

Popular Searches

T.E. Lawrence

Lawrence of Arabia - a name synonymous with the Hejaz Railway. Discover the sites of his attacks on the railway in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. Lawrence's classic account of his campaign in Arabia Seven Pillars of Wisdom has some of its finest passages bringing to life the railway, its stations and the old steam engines.

AlUla

The railway embankment winds through breathtaking scenery in the Saudi region of AlUla. A world-class tourist destination, rich in archaeological treasures, the area's most iconic attraction is the Hejaz Railway, with its major stations of Hegra (Medain Saleh) & AlUla framed within a unique & spectacular desert landscape.

Muazzam Fort (Muadhdham) Hejaz Railway Darb al Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca & Medina

Pilgrimage Forts

By following the ancient pilgrimage road, the railway was able to take advantage of the water supplies of the great medieval caravanserai forts. Today, these qala'a still stand proudly in the desert, testimony to the devotion of the pilgrims who for centuries made the long trek to Mecca by camel, donkey or on foot.

BBC Heritage Podcasts

In a four-part series, broadcast on the World Service in 2006, BBC presenter Malcolm Billings traces the route and history of the Hejaz Railway, bringing the story of the old pilgrimage line wonderfully to life. To listen to the four parts - History; Pilgrimage; Impact; Future - click here and follow the links for each episode.

Hejaz Railway in Yarmuk (Yarmouk) Valley on the Haifa to Dera'a branch

The Branch Lines

The principal branch was built from Deraa in Syria to the port of Haifa, giving the railway a vital outlet to the Mediterranean Sea. For 58 km the track followed the steep, twisting Yarmuk Valley (left), a section that required 15 bridges and 7 tunnels. Other branches included the 40-km Deraa to Bosra al Sham line.

Royal Flying Corps

The RFC (the precursor to the Royal Air Force) played an important role in the wartime campaign in Arabia. Its main contribution was in boosting morale among Arab fighters, who had never seen aircraft before. As well as attacks on stations and railway installations, the RFC carried out vital reconnaissance missions.

Medina Station on the Hejaz Railway (Hijaz Railway) at Madinah in Saudi Arabia

Restoration Projects

In Saudi Arabia, major projects have been carried out to restore Medina, Hegra (Medain Saleh) and Tabuk Stations to their former glory. There are now plans to renovate AlUla Station to house a visitor centre dedicated to the rich history of the railway. There are museums in Jordan (Amman) and Syria (Damascus).

French Captain Rosario Pisani artillery column in 1918 on the Hejaz Railway

French Military Mission

While the French contribution to the wartime campaign in Arabia is not as well known as the British one, their role in the raids on the railway was of enormous importance. In particular, the artillery battery of Capt. R. Pisani provided vital support for the Bedouin in their attacks on the station garrisons.

Hedia Bridge flood water on the Hejaz Railway (Hijaz Railway) in Saudi Arabia

Bridges

Bridges needed to be built with sufficient height and strength to withstand flash floods. In the desert, valleys that had been dry for years could suddenly become raging torrents when rain finally fell. To the left is Hedia Bridge in Saudi Arabia, still standing strong over a hundred years after its construction.

Wagga Fort on the Hejaz Railway in Saudi Arabia in First World War

Railway Defences

Defensive posts were built at various vantage points along the railway to protect vital assets. Looking up from stations and major bridges, stone fortifications can often be seen, perched on strategic positions in the hills. Wagga Fort (left) was extended during the war to protect a deep rail cutting from Allied attacks.

Abu Na'am Station 2020

"A herd of sheep and goats issued from the station and moved towards us in charge of a little ragged boy. Before he reached the foot of the hills there came a loud whistling down the valley and a tiny train ground slowly into view across the hollow-sounding bridge and halted in the station, panting out white puffs of steam."

T.E. Lawrence Seven Pillars of Wisdom - The raid on Abu Na'am Station March 1917