Saudi Arabia is set to fast-track a planned rail link and a second causeway with Bahrain.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has given the directive to speed up work on the project, Saudi ambassador Dr Abdulla Al Shaikh said.

The project to build the rail link and King Hamad Causeway is estimated to cost $15.5 billion. It will be the second causeway to link Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, after King Fahad Causeway.

Meanwhile, work on the expansion of King Fahad Causeway is set to begin within six months, it has been revealed.

The expansion will see the number of lanes at the causeway that links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia increase from 17 to 45 in a major expansion. Two lanes are also being planned for each entrance leading to eight cabins which are expected to facilitate movement of traffic between the customs and passport cabins.

The plans were revealed after Interior Minister Lieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa met King Fahad Causeway Authority director-general Abdulrahman bin Saad Al Yahya.