Jeddah (TAN): Saudi Arabia’s Haramain High-Speed Railway Project has added eight new trips to its schedule between the cities of Mecca and Medina, starting February 13, 2019, media reports said.
The additional journeys mean the trains will now make 40 weekly trips every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday along the 450-kilometre route.
According to media reports, Chairman of the Public Transport Authority Rumaih Al-Rumaih said that it was a historic moment of landmark achievement in the modern transportation industry in the Kingdom.
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Services began last October connecting the holy cities via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Rabigh.
For a fast, safe and comfortable journey
The train, running at a speed of 300 kilometres per hour, will significantly reduce travel time.
While direct trips between Mecca and Medina will now take two hours, the ones between the two cities with stops at Jeddah and KAEC will add another 20 minutes.
Furnished with state-of-the-art technology, including contemporary signalling and communications system, each train can carry 417 passengers.
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The high-speed electrified passenger line aims to deliver a fast and comfortable transportation to locals and pilgrims alike, especially during Ramadan. The Saudi Railways Organisation website said the project could ease congestion on roads leading to the cities, and lessen pollution emitted by vehicles.
Designed to eventually handle 60 million passengers per year, it embodies one of the most crucial transport projects in Saudi Arabia’s railway network expansion.
