Consultancy on the infrastructure of the planned King Hamad Causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain has been completed. The 25km long strategic artery, which will run parallel to the existing King Fahad Causeway, will allow travel for passenger trains, freight trains and vehicles. The causeway, which is estimated to cost USD5bn and will be part of the proposed GCC Railway, will ease traffic pressure on the existing causeway and boost trade exchanges. The GDN reported in February that the pan-GCC rail network is on track to be operational by the end of 2023.