Saudi Arabia?s Haramain High-Speed Railway network has been given power connectivity through overhead electrical lines, following which a train has also been tested on the line
This was announced by Saudi Arabia?s transport minister Abdullah Al-Muqbil, who is also chairman of the board of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO).
Al-Muqbil said that a train has been tested on the line with speeds up to 300 km per hour and that tests will continue for a few months until the efficiency of the train is verified. The minister expected King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Madinah to be linked to the railway line by the end of this year.
The project includes the establishment of railway lines between Mecca, Jeddah and Medina with signals and modern communications systems exceeding lengths of 450 km. SRO provides express trains with state-of-the-art technology. Train stations will be established in Central Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah, Mecca, Medina and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh.
Sources quoted by the local media outlets said that some work has yet to be completed on the Haramain railway station but progress in Makkah is ahead of schedule.
The Haramain railway project is one of the important elements in the planned expansion of the railway network in the country. It has assumed urgency due to the growing number of Umrah and Haj pilgrims and visitors who come to Mecca and Medina throughout the year.
Al-Muqbil had said earlier that there will be two passenger classes, first class and hospitality. He also said that ticket prices will be set to suit everyone.
