Sunday, June 24, 2018

Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – The Haramain Speed Train, which is to bring about a dramatic change in the transportation of pilgrims and other passengers between the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, will be launched this year, said Mohammed Abdulhafiz Fida, director general of the project.

Speaking to Al-Jazirah Arabic daily, he said: “The people of Makkah and Madinah regions as well as pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah will be able to enjoy the service this year.”

However, Fida did not give a specific date for the start of commercial operations.

He described Haramain Railway as one of the largest railway projects in the Middle East region, adding that it would reduce pressure on the road system between Makkah and Madinah and bring down traffic accidents involving pilgrims and other passengers.

“The railway ensures safe and comfortable journey between the two holy cities,” Fida said while talking about the 450-long electric railway system.

Trains will pass through Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh. The railway will reduce the travel time between Makkah and Madinah to 2 hours and 15 minutes with trains running at a speed of 300 km per hour.

The railway has five stations in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Rabigh and King Abdulaziz International Airport. Designed according to Islamic architecture they will handle thousands of passengers daily and are provided with modern facilities to ensure the comfort of passengers.

Each of the five stations has lounges for departing and arriving passengers, waiting rooms, shops, restaurants, cafes, car parks and a VIP lounge, in addition to a mosque for 1,000 worshippers, a helipad and a Civil Defense center.

The station in Makkah is located close to Rusaifa, about 3 km from the Grand Mosque, while the Madinah station is located in the Knowledge City on King Abdul Aziz Road, which connects the railway station with the Prophet’s Mosque.

The main station in Jeddah is situated in Sulaimaniya along the Makkah Expressway. The second Jeddah station is at King Abdulaziz International Airport, the main gateway of pilgrims to Makkah. The Rabigh station is located close to King Abdullah Economic City.

The project also includes 850 passages for rainwater, floods and sewage, Fida said.

Speaking about the capacity of the railway stations, Fida said the Jeddah station alone can handle more than 25,000 passengers per hour.

“The project aims at transporting 60 million passengers annually using 35 high speed trains, each with a capacity of 417 seats. The capacity can be doubled to 834 by adding two cars,” he said.

Fida said the 35 trains would be scheduled considering the seasonal rush of passengers. “An electronic website will be launched ahead of commercial operations, in addition to a special mobile phone app and automatic ticket sales points at stations. We’ll also establish reservation offices,” he added.

Fida said passengers would be able to travel between the two holy cities paying the lowest charges and the trains will have executive and economy classes.

Source: http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/537521