October 10, 2026
More than half a century after the cessation of transport trains in Lebanon, the railways returned to witnessing exceptional activity with the launch of the first electric train under the name “BaraTrain” in the town of Barbara in the Jbeil district, in a local initiative aimed at reviving the historical tracks for tourism and awareness purposes.
The project was launched at an official ceremony held near the town’s port, jointly organized by the General Corporation for Railways and Combined Transport and the municipality of Barbara, under the patronage of the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fayez Rasamni, and in the presence of a crowd of political, official and municipal figures.
The “BaraTrain” route covers about 3.5 kilometers of historical railway, starting from Barbara, passing through Kfarkada and Faghal, all the way to the Madfoun Bridge, on a journey that combines coastal and mountainous natural scenes. The project administration has allocated free trips for school students, which will be expanded to run during the weekend and in the summer.
In this context, the mayor of Barbara, George Mufarrej, explained that the project was manufactured locally and runs on renewable energy on a railway dating back to 1895, with the aim of introducing younger generations to the importance of railway transport. He pointed out that the project will enter a pilot phase to evaluate performance and address gaps in preparation for its development in later stages.
For his part, the Director General of the General Corporation for Railways and Combined Transport, Ziad Shea, considered that this step represents “a hope that is modest in size and great in its meanings” after an absence that lasted for more than five decades, stressing the corporation’s serious endeavor to change the reality of the transportation sector in the country.
In turn, Minister Fayez Rasamny confirmed that the revival of this section of the railway was achieved thanks to the combined efforts between the Railway Corporation, the Municipality of Barbara, and the supporting bodies, which culminated in removing encroachments and overcoming obstacles. He pointed out that the train consists of two cars with a capacity of about 45 passengers, and a speed ranging between 15 and 20 kilometers per hour, with plans to increase its capacity and study extending its route in coordination with neighboring municipalities.
The railway scene is not limited to the Barbara initiative, as this launch coincides with the preparation for a strategic project linking the port of Tripoli to the Aboudia area, the Syrian network, and regional markets via a line extending about 35 kilometers. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport also continues its efforts to expand the public transportation network and improve its services, especially through the introduction of electric buses.
Rasamny concluded by stressing the importance of protecting railway property and its tracks from encroachment as they are public and strategic assets of the state, warning that any encroachment on them restricts the prospects for their future use and doubles the cost of rehabilitating and operating them.
