Jordan Hejaz Railway Station | Amman

Information

Landmark: Jordan Hejaz Railway Station
City: Amman
Country: Jordan
Continent: Asia

Jordan Hejaz Railway Station, Amman, Jordan, Asia

Jordan Hejaz Railway Station is a historic narrow-gauge rail hub and museum located in the Mahatta district of eastern Amman. It serves as the administrative headquarters for the Jordan Hejaz Railway and preserves the regional heritage of the Ottoman-era pilgrimage route.

Visual Characteristics

The station complex consists of multiple one and two-story buildings constructed from carved local limestone and basalt. The primary administrative building features a rectangular footprint with a red-tiled roof and arched windows characteristic of early 20th-century Ottoman public architecture. The yard contains original 1050mm narrow-gauge iron tracks, water towers for steam replenishment, and several stationary vintage locomotives and wooden passenger carriages.

Location & Access Logistics

The landmark is located on Al-Mahatta Street (King Abdullah I Street) in the Mahatta area, approximately 2.5 kilometers east of the Roman Theatre. It is accessible via the main artery connecting downtown Amman to the Marka district. Visitors can utilize the large paved parking area within the station gates or arrive via local buses and "service" taxis that frequent the Mahatta-Zarqa route.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Construction of the Amman section of the Hejaz Railway was completed in 1904 under the direction of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The station was a vital link in the 1,300-kilometer line connecting Damascus to Medina, intended to facilitate the Hajj pilgrimage and consolidate Ottoman military control. Following the Arab Revolt and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the site became the foundational rail infrastructure for the Emirate of Transjordan in 1921.

Key Highlights & Activities

The on-site museum displays over 200 artifacts, including historic ticket stubs, telegraph equipment, and original photographs of the line's construction. Visitors can tour the Royal Carriage used by King Abdullah I and inspect a collection of working steam locomotives dating back to 1898. Occasional excursion trains are operated on demand for groups, traveling short distances toward Zarqa or Al-Jizah.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The station grounds include a visitor museum, public restrooms, and administrative offices. While there are no formal food vendors inside the gated complex, numerous grocery stores and local eateries are located immediately outside the entrance in the Mahatta commercial zone. The site maintains consistent 4G and 5G cellular coverage and provides shaded areas near the station platforms.

Best Time to Visit

The museum typically operates from Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 to 15:30, and is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Morning visits are recommended to avoid mid-day heat and to utilize the eastern sunlight for photographing the locomotive sheds. The station is particularly relevant during national holidays when vintage steam engines are sometimes brought out for public display.

Facts & Legends

The Amman station is credited with transforming the city from a small Circassian village into a regional capital; its strategic importance led King Abdullah I to select Amman as his seat of government in 1921. A local historical oddity is Locomotive 161, which remained in service for decades after the line was officially severed, symbolizing the railway's mechanical resilience.