Jeddah (TAN): Hajj pilgrims will be able to travel by the Haramain high-speed train for the first time this year, making their commute to Saudi Arabia’s holy city Mecca faster.
Hajj, the annual pilgrimage performed by Muslims, at least once during their lifetimes, began yesterday and will last until August 14. During the tenure, Saudi Arabia hosts pilgrims from all over the world.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway Project was launched last October, after the Hajj, making this the inaugural year for the rail service to manage the annual flow of pilgrims. The service currently operates trips between the holy cities of Mecca and Medina via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Rabigh.
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The high-speed electrified passenger train, running at a speed of 300 kilometres per hour, significantly reduces travel time. Direct trips between Mecca and Medina take two hours, compared to road trips that can take 10 hours during Hajj.
The line consists of five stations – two terminus stations in Mecca and Medina, and three stations Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, and KAEC in between.
Journeys between Mecca and Jeddah take 21 minutes, Jeddah and King Abdulaziz Airport 14 minutes, King Abdulaziz Airport and Rabigh 36 minutes, and Rabigh and Medina 61 minutes.
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Designed to handle 60 million passengers per year, each of the 35 trains can carry 417 passengers in two classes. They are furnished with state-of-the-art technology, including contemporary signalling and communications system, as well as temperature handling capacity of up to 50°C, the country’s maximum temperature.
The trip between Mecca and Medina reportedly costs SAR150 in economy class and SAR250 in business class.
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