LEBANON — The Halba–Beirut public transport route will begin operating on Oct. 24, in a new step aimed at strengthening connections between Akkar and the capital and facilitating residents’ travel to Beirut and other areas.
The launch comes as the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Railway and Public Transport Authority work to expand the public transport network to areas and governorates that were not included in the initial phases of the project.
Akkar has been among the areas awaiting integration into the public transport network. Previous reports indicated that the project initially covered major cities including Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon, while Akkar remained outside the network, despite the large number of residents who travel daily to Tripoli and Beirut for work and education.
In August, Railway and Public Transport Authority Director Ziad Chea announced preparations to launch six new routes, alongside the arrival of additional buses in Lebanon.
The donations include 100 Chinese buses worth approximately $12.5 million in total, in addition to 30 Qatari buses, which are expected to be used to expand services to areas not covered during the previous phase of the project.
Recent official announcements indicate a gradual expansion of public transport beyond the country’s main cities. On Sept. 28, the Rashaya–Chtaura route was launched to facilitate travel between Rashaya and the Western Bekaa and Chtaura, and from there to Beirut, particularly for students, employees and other residents of the area.
The introduction of the Halba–Beirut route comes within this broader expansion of public transport, as public transit becomes increasingly important for reducing transportation costs and connecting areas farther from the capital to a more organized transport network.
Details regarding fares, schedules and stops for the Halba–Beirut route have yet to be officially confirmed by the Railway and Public Transport Authority.
