OREANDA-NEWS. September 02, 2008. The 554-km twin-track line between Sirt and Benghazi uses a gauge of 1435 mm and will run along Libya’s Mediterranean coast to connect the country’s major cities and in the future will form part of the international transport corridor in northern Africa, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

Construction, which is expected to last 4 years and cost EUR2.2 billion, will be carried out by Russian specialists working with Libyan companies.

The project will require 30 rail and 23 road overpasses, as well as 4 major railway stations and 24 stations, of which 14 will be for passengers, 2 for passengers and goods and 4 for goods, with 4 operating stations.

It is estimated that construction will require more than 203,000 cubic meters of concrete and 40,000 tons of metal and employ 3,400 construction workers, including 289 engineers, as well as more than 200 pieces of equipment.

In the first phase of the project, diesel traction will be used, in the second, the line will be electrified and electric trains will be introduced.

”A new chapter has opened today in the economic cooperation between Libya and Russia. This is the first major project in the history of the two countries in the transport sphere. Russian Railways already has sufficient experience with this kind of work, so we know we can deliver on schedule and with high quality,” said Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways.