'Handbook of Mesopotamia. Vol. I. 1918' [‎266] (275/568)

266 COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
(d) Proposed connexions between Baghdad and the Syrian coast
or Egypt via the Euphrates valley.
The following have been considered as possible lines for railway
connexion between Irak and Syria :
(i) Baghdad — Fellujeh — Euphrates valley — Aleppo — Alexan-
dretta.
The distance from Baghdad to Aleppo would be about 520 miles
(Aleppo—Baghdad via the Baghdad Railway, about 625 miles).
At present there is railway connexion between Aleppo and Alex-
andretta via Baghcheh and Toprak Qal'ah (135 miles).
The distance between Aleppo and Alexandretta, as the crow flies,
is about 60 miles, but any railway construction between these points
would be difficult and costly.
Railway construction between Aleppo and Suedia (about 80 miles)
or between Aleppo and Latakiyeh (about 100 miles) would be con
siderably easier than between Aleppo and Alexandretta; and there
is a French concession for a line from Aleppo to Latakiyeh. But at
Suedia conditions are not at all favourable to the development of
a considerable port, and Latakiyeh in this respect is very inferior to
Alexandretta.
Aleppo is connected with Tripoli by a standard-gauge line
llama and Homs. 1
(ii) Baghdad—Fellujeh—Anah 2 —Deir ez-Zor—Palmyra—Homs
—Tripoli.
About 620 miles, of which about 65 miles are covered by the
Homs—Tripoli line.
(iii) Baghdad—Fellujeh—Anah—Abu Kemal—Palmyra—Homs
—Tripoli.
About 550 miles, of which about 65 are covered by the Homs—
Tripoli line.
This is the shortest line to the Syrian coast.
(iv) Baghdad—Fellujeh—Anah—Abu Kemal—Palmyra—Damas
cus—Rayak—Beirut.
About 630 miles, of which about 95 are covered by the Damascus
—Rayak—Beirut line.
The Damascus—Beirut line has a gauge of 1-05 metre (3 ft. 5-34 in.).
Between Rayak and Beirut gradients are very steep, and the rack-
and-pinion system is in use.
*
1 The rails of the Horns—Tripoli line were taken up in 1916 for use on the
Baghdad Railway.
2 Baghdad—Anah via Fellujeh and the Euphrates valley, about 180 miles.
Baghdad—Anah across the Jezlreh desert, about 160 miles.