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Assuming there was some industrialized powerful country in the middle east, what would its priorities be in building an extensive railway system? Here are my thoughts.

Ottomans: Anatolia will be likely the most densly paacked region with railways, and there will be of course a rail in Constantinople that goes into Europe. They may also be a rail into Iran from Baghdad. The levant will be densly packed as well, and expect there to be rails stretching down to Mecca and Medina. Maybe also rails that go through the caucasus and into Russia.

Arab state: The fertile crescent will likely look the same as with the Ottomans, but maybe there would be more connections in the deep south. Expect a lot on the Persian gulf coast, and maybe some that reach down to Yemen. Maybe a thing like the Channel Tunnel can be built between Yemen and Somalia.

Khedivate Egypt: Probably just going down the Nile, I don't think Egypt has any significant population centers outside of it. Also up the Levant if Egypt has that. Maybe rails connecting to Ethiopia and other parts of Africa.

Iran/Persia: Mostly in the western side of the country. Also rails going to India, Central asia, Arabia and Anatolia.

Any thoughts?
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