![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2YPZY7MBFFDDMXIOWYLV7LHYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb907a9c9b05e2775f181297154699aa45628391a62ffa14e9ea4f58fdd25839&width=400&height=225)
Amman, Trans-Jordan, around 1898. Photo: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GD65H6CSGNEQTBWYDLDYQNTOJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b7d450e6a310e5d72b4c3e59ad87af770a04edac7b460857fd9ef12fe9c7f02&width=400&height=225)
A Jerusalem-Qantara train crossing Egypt's Sinai Desert, on a section of Al Hejaz railway to Auja Al Hafir and El Qusaima via Beersheba. Photo: Matson collection (US Library of Congress)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VX6HIJ4G6NAQHP6CMOSJBUUW7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=48df1c559dac4ff913f26d0a6c81917b42fc47d039ea7d5e2988192203a406de&width=400&height=225)
A Palestinian railway, between Beyroth and Damascus, in this image taken between 1909 and 1919. Photo: National Photo Company Collection (Library of Congress)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5IJRJVQRVH5PMB4DHJUOTWXZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed902c6b78ee7085bf35d0ccbe7c310350844643274292fd1af9c3ef26bcb477&width=400&height=225)
A railway station in Homs, Syria, between 1925 to 1946. Photo: Library of Congress
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZBA55QI5PJG3XPRBMRXCGPCH6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=289582425e0fa9a6b15f83449daee16f7edbd55e8fb52d432864a9105b117e8d&width=400&height=225)
Haifa railway station. Photo: Culture Club/Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SWN4YZKH2RFTJB676IZ5S6KOPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=34923f9cee7981daa5fd3a676b2a40124bbb60434ce58dac2ea407f039784419&width=400&height=225)
Damascus Gate and environs, approximately 1900 to 1920. Photo: Library of Congress
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IRXMSMWYI5FLBF4OMFDGXVLNPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=01c648cad4c854429ae7f91e69680b8a365ecaf9cabe68e32fa732e95a7a6332&width=400&height=225)
The Umayyad Mosque, or Great Mosque of Damascus, Syria, circa 1880. Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2YPZY7MBFFDDMXIOWYLV7LHYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb907a9c9b05e2775f181297154699aa45628391a62ffa14e9ea4f58fdd25839&width=400&height=225)
Amman, Trans-Jordan, around 1898. Photo: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GD65H6CSGNEQTBWYDLDYQNTOJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=6b7d450e6a310e5d72b4c3e59ad87af770a04edac7b460857fd9ef12fe9c7f02&width=400&height=225)
A Jerusalem-Qantara train crossing Egypt's Sinai Desert, on a section of Al Hejaz railway to Auja Al Hafir and El Qusaima via Beersheba. Photo: Matson collection (US Library of Congress)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VX6HIJ4G6NAQHP6CMOSJBUUW7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=48df1c559dac4ff913f26d0a6c81917b42fc47d039ea7d5e2988192203a406de&width=400&height=225)
A Palestinian railway, between Beyroth and Damascus, in this image taken between 1909 and 1919. Photo: National Photo Company Collection (Library of Congress)
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5IJRJVQRVH5PMB4DHJUOTWXZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ed902c6b78ee7085bf35d0ccbe7c310350844643274292fd1af9c3ef26bcb477&width=400&height=225)
A railway station in Homs, Syria, between 1925 to 1946. Photo: Library of Congress
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZBA55QI5PJG3XPRBMRXCGPCH6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=289582425e0fa9a6b15f83449daee16f7edbd55e8fb52d432864a9105b117e8d&width=400&height=225)
Haifa railway station. Photo: Culture Club/Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SWN4YZKH2RFTJB676IZ5S6KOPM.jpg?smart=true&auth=34923f9cee7981daa5fd3a676b2a40124bbb60434ce58dac2ea407f039784419&width=400&height=225)
Damascus Gate and environs, approximately 1900 to 1920. Photo: Library of Congress
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IRXMSMWYI5FLBF4OMFDGXVLNPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=01c648cad4c854429ae7f91e69680b8a365ecaf9cabe68e32fa732e95a7a6332&width=400&height=225)
The Umayyad Mosque, or Great Mosque of Damascus, Syria, circa 1880. Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2YPZY7MBFFDDMXIOWYLV7LHYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb907a9c9b05e2775f181297154699aa45628391a62ffa14e9ea4f58fdd25839&width=400&height=225)
Amman, Trans-Jordan, around 1898. Photo: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Can the age of Middle East train travel return?
It was once possible to take trains from the Mediterranean to modern-day Saudi Arabia
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