Oman Rail is considering developing a domestic rail network that will also double as a ‘mineral line’ for the heavy haulage of mineral commodities to the sultanate’s Duqm Port, said a report.

Tentative plans drawn up by the national rail company envisage a 605-km ‘mineral line’ network, added the Oman Daily Observer report.

The move underscores efforts by Oman Rail to refocus its attention on aspects of Oman’s National Rail Project that can be taken in hand for design and implementation pending the resumption of the six-nation GCC Rail Project currently on hold because of ongoing fiscal and other challenges.

The proposed Domestic Rail Network / Mineral Line Project is envisioned as a distinct ‘sector’ within Segment Four of the Oman Rail Network, the preliminary design for which has been essentially completed.

The new Sector D of Segment 4 entails a network of branch lines that connect Amal, a key junction on the original Oman Rail Network, with three major mineral clusters located in Dhofar Governorate.