Beirut, Lebanon (Enmaeya News) — Lebanon has begun rehabilitating its historic Mar Mikhael train station, with officials laying the foundation stone for the project Wednesday.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny joined Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, and Acting Head of the Italian Embassy Silvia Tossi for the ceremony.

Rasamny said the project represents both a preservation of Lebanon’s heritage and a vision for the future. “Mar Mikhael Station is where Lebanon’s railway journey began in 1895, linking Beirut to Damascus, Hama, and Aleppo and connecting people, cities, and economies,” he said.

While acknowledging the challenges of restoring Lebanon’s rail network, Rasamny said the station’s revival brings hope that trains may one day return. The project will restore historic buildings and trains while transforming the site into cultural and community spaces.

He also highlighted the station’s resilience, noting it had suffered years of neglect and damage from the August 4 explosion. “This is more than a restoration — it’s a symbol of Lebanon itself, a nation that preserves its heritage, values its identity, and believes in progress,” Rasamny said.

The minister concluded that the rehabilitated station should inspire future generations to connect, learn, and dream, with the hope that one day the whistle of a departing train will again echo through Mar Mikhael.