Saudi’s Haramain rail adds new trips to serve pilgrims ahead of Hajj

Saudi’s high-speed Haramain Rail has added new trips to its timetable to facilitate the movement of pilgrims between Makkah and Madinah, local media reported.

Authorities said the rail line will now carry out a total of 64 trips per week. Train services are expected to be increased further to reach 80 trips per week, Saudi Gazette reported.

Saudi Arabia is preparing to host pilgrims from all over the world as they arrive to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage next month. Over 600,000 pilgrims have already arrived in the kingdom, with roughly two million expected in total.

The Haramain railway, which started services in October 2018, currently operates trips between Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City of Rabigh.

Each train includes 35 passenger cars with a capacity of 417 passengers on two-way trips between Makkah and Madinah.

The ticket rate for the journey between the two passenger stations in Jeddah and Makkah has been priced at SAR40 in the regular class and SAR50 in business class.

The trip between Makkah and Madinah costs SAR150 in regular class and SAR250 in business class.

Read: Saudi’s Al Haramain train ticket prices officially revealed

The train travels at speeds of 300kmh and reduces journey times between Makkah and Jeddah to 21 minutes, Jeddah to King Abdulaziz Airport to 14 minutes, King Abdulaziz Airport to Rabigh to 36 minutes and Rabigh to Madinah to 61 minutes.

Travel between Makkah and Madinah takes less than two and a half hours.

The line has five stations — two terminus stations in Makkah and Madinah, and two central stations in Jeddah and Rabigh, and a fifth station at King Abdulaziz International Airport built by the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

All stations include several facilities including business class lounges, a public transport centre, parking lots, civil defense stations, mosques, and commercial spaces catering to traveller needs.

The 450km Haramain line was originally due to open in 2012 but was hit by delays and cost increases. Trial runs of the project were completed in November 2017.

The line transported more than 118,000 passengers through 310 trips from its launch on October 11 until the end of last year, according to local media reports.

Read: Pictures: Saudi king inaugurates Haramain train line