Aqaba Railway Corporation posts its first-ever profit 

AQABA (JT) — The Aqaba Railway Corporation (ARC) posted its first-ever profit since it was established in 1972 by generating JD375, 000 profit during the January-June period of this year. The corporation transports phosphate mined in southern Jordan to Aqaba for export. ARC Director General Hussein Kreishan indicated that a total of 64 million tonnes of phosphate have been transported by railway since 1972 and expected to transport nearly three million tonnes this year. Kreishan attributed the profit to the increase in the amounts of phosphate transported from the mines of Hassa, Abyad and Shidieh and the low cost of transportation by rail compared to trucks. According to the ARC chief, the corporation succeeded in lowering expenses by tackling technical problems such as the leakage of phosphate dust onto the rails. Kreishan pointed out that the corporation constantly carries out repairs and maintenance and has recently rehabilitated 40 locomotives that had been idle since 1996. Preparations are under way for the implementation of a vital tourism project that would link Aqaba with Wadi Rum and Petra by rail, Kreishan concluded.