LEBANON — Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rassamni said there is currently no economic feasibility for operating a railway system in Lebanon, despite the existence of an idea to reactivate the Beirut–Jounieh rail line.

Speaking in an interview with LBCI, Minister Rassamni explained that the coastal road presently used by cars is built on railway property, making its closure impossible due to the severe traffic congestion it would cause.

As a result, he said, restarting train services under current conditions is not viable from an economic standpoint.

Regarding transportation services, the minister stated that airport taxi fares have now been officially unified and standardized, noting that the approved tariffs are available through ministry applications.

Addressing road safety, the minister said that improving street lighting is among the top priorities of the Ministry of Public Works, stressing that poor lighting significantly contributes to traffic accidents.

He revealed that traffic accident rates remain high, with pedestrians accounting for around 70% of incidents and motorcycles for roughly 30%, alongside the impact of inadequate road illumination.

Financially, Minister Rassamni said he had requested an allocation of $800 million in the Cabinet and later $1.2 billion during parliamentary budget discussions, but the ministry was ultimately granted only $200 million to cover needs across the entire country.

The minister also disclosed the presence of approximately 12,000 forged license plates among large buses and small vans, stressing the need to regularize these vehicles.