Jastrow's "The War & The Bagdad Railway" is a 1917 book suggesting use of railway mode in the Middle East solution set. Oil is not forever, but certainly seems to corrupt human nature and forces unsustainable choices in development and transportation mode mix.

Conflict. See http://theoildrum.com/files/Lionel%20Badal%20Dissertation.pdf

In Iraq, and Afghanistan as well, robust effort to expand and extend the railway corridors with regional commerce in mind is an important thing. Railway is apolitical; that is, railway corridor is owned by everyone, even if privately operated. Military lingo for railways is: "Second Dimension Surface Transport Logistics Platform".

Railways permit movement without the barricade environment so common in places with factional districts, always with a hand out for protection money. Military security and operation if and when needed.

In face, if the railway network of the middle east were seen as part of "The Pilgrim Railway" (Hejaz Railway) it would be readily accepted as off limits to sabotage or disruption, mayber even subtect of Fatwah decree to leave the railways alone.

Motor transport can certainly be maintained, and not threatened by railway network expansion. In fact, railway lines to Mecca and Medina Lebanon and Egypt and Turkey/Europe, even stretching as far as India are useful to smooth, not impede the trucking component in the distribution pattern.

Railways offer elegant connection with renewable power generation, and give the areas with these transportation facilities advbantage as oil supply becomes more restricted or cut off.

Some ideas can be seen in Christopher C. Swan's book, "ELECTRIC WATER" (New Society Press, 2007), and in (peakoil.net, there are some policy points in ASPO Newsletters 42 article 374 & Newsletter 89, article 1037, respectively.