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New Freight Train Track Outside Al-Ahsa Urban Area Begins Test Operations

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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New Freight Train Track Outside Al-Ahsa Urban Area Begins Test Operations

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has announced the commencement of operational tests for a new freight train track outside the urban area of Al-Ahsa Governorate following extensive preparations, reflecting the continued support and oversight of Al-Ahsa Governor Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr and Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser.
The project is in accordance with the announcement made in April 2023, with freight train operations on the new track scheduled to commence on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, SPA reported.
The new route is part of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, which aims to develop advanced and sustainable infrastructure to solidify Saudi Arabia's position as a global logistics hub. By relocating freight train traffic outside Al-Ahsa's urban area, the project enhances road safety, reduces traffic congestion, and improves traffic flow within the governorate.

Additionally, the new track increases the flexibility of freight movement between the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and the Riyadh Dry Port, boosting operational efficiency and supporting the Kingdom's economic and population growth needs.
SAR emphasized its commitment to delivering integrated solutions that meet the aspirations of the local population while contributing to sustainable development. The company is currently engaged in several projects in Al-Ahsa Governorate to further enhance transport and logistics services in the region.

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Varieties

Buyer Splashes Out $1.3 Million for Tokyo New Year Tuna

The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
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Buyer Splashes Out $1.3 Million for Tokyo New Year Tuna

The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)

The top bidder at a Tokyo fish market said they paid $1.3 million for a tuna on Sunday, the second highest price ever paid at an annual prestigious new year auction.

Michelin-starred sushi restauranteurs the Onodera Group said they paid 207 million yen for the 276-kilogram (608 pound) bluefin tuna, roughly the size and weight of a motorbike.

It is the second highest price paid at the opening auction of the year in Tokyo's main fish market since comparable data started being collected in 1999.

The powerful buyers have now paid the top price for five years straight -- winning bragging rights and a lucrative frenzy of media attention in Japan.

"The first tuna is something meant to bring in good fortune," Onodera official Shinji Nagao told reporters after the auction. "Our wish is that people will eat this and have a wonderful year."

The Onodera Group paid 114 million yen for the top tuna last year.

But the highest ever auction price was 333.6 million yen for a 278-kilogram bluefin in 2019, as the fish market was moved from its traditional Tsukiji area to a modern facility in nearby Toyosu.

The record bid was made by self-proclaimed "Tuna King" Kiyoshi Kimura, who operates the Sushi Zanmai national restaurant chain.

During the Covid-19 pandemic the new year tunas commanded only a fraction of their usual top prices, as the public were discouraged from dining out and restaurants had limited operations.