Transport in Kuwait

As an oil rich nation, Transport in Kuwait is largely road based, one car for every 2.25 people. Bus services make up Kuwait's entire public transport network, as the country has no rail infrastructure. Several railways are being planned from many years but none whatsoever have gone into effect, including a Kuwait City metro. Kuwait has several maritime ports along the Persian Gulf. There are seven airports, the largest and only for civil-use is Kuwait International Airport.

Railways

Kuwait does not have railways, though increasing congestion on the country's roads has led to several railway projects being planned.^[1] Kuwait City would form one terminus of the proposed Gulf Railway, a 2,000 km (1,200 mi) railway network which will run from Kuwait to Oman, via cities across the Persian Gulf.^[2]A four line, 171 km (106 mi), metro network within Kuwait city is also in the planning stages.^[3][4] A privately owned railway track of unknown length is proposed as part of a park project called "The Boulevard". This park is set to be open in April 2016. ^[5]

Metro

Main article: Kuwait Metropolitan Rapid Transit System Project

The Kuwait Metropolitan Rapid Transit System Project is a planned four-line metro network which will total 160 km with 69 stations.^[6]

Road transport

As a nation with one car to every 2.25 people,^[7] Kuwait relies heavily on its road network for transportation. The total length of paved and unpaved roads was 6,524km in 2009.^[8] Traffic congestion is common throughout the day, particularly in Kuwait City.^[9]

As there are no railways country's public transport network consists almost entirely of bus routes. The state owned Kuwait Public Transportation Company was established in 1962. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait as well as longer distance services to other Persian Gulf states.^[10] The main private bus company is CityBus, which operates about 20 routes across the country.^[11] Another private bus company, Kuwait Gulf Link Public Transport Services, was started in 2006. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait and longer distance services to neighbouring Arab countries.^[12]

Ports and harbors

The Ash Shu'aybah port

Kuwait lies on the Persian Gulf and ports include: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud

Merchant marine

total: 38 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,294,233 GRT/3,730,776 DWT
ships by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 4, petroleum tanker 20
foreign-owned: 1 (Iran 1)
registered in other countries:29 (Bahrain 3, Comoros 1, Liberia 1, Libya 1, Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saudi Arabia 6, UAE 8) (2005)

Airports

7 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2005)

Heliports

5 (2006)

National Airline

• Kuwait Airways

See also

• Kuwait
• Jazeera Airways

References

1. Kuwait Metro System, Kuwait City, Kuwait, railway-technology.com, retrieved 16 March 2013
2. "Single rail network to link Kuwait & Oman by 2017". Visit Kuwait. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
3. Railway Gazette International July 2008 p409 with map
4. "Kuwait finalising ambitious metro plans". Railway Gazette International. 22 May 2008.
5. Project Overview, retrieved 18 January 2016
6. "Kuwait metro procurement to begin soon". Railway Gazette International. 21 February 2012.
7. "TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:". Bureau of Consular Affairs. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
8. "Roads, total network (km)". World Bank. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
9. "Kuwait’s traffic nightmare – MPW sees hurdles in executing projects". Kuwait Times. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
10. "Public Transport Services". Kuwait Public Transportation Company. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
11. . Arab Times http://www.arabtimesonline.com/RSS/tabid/69/smid/414/ArticleID/169182/Default.asp. Retrieved 17 March 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
12. "Public Transport Services". KGL. Retrieved 13 November 2013.