Saudi Arabia’s Haramain High Speed Railway has transported over 50,000 Hajj pilgrims since it began operating for the first time during the Hajj season, according to media reports.
A report in Arab News said the train – which takes three hours to travel from Madinah to Makkah and 40 minutes from Jeddah to Makkah – has operated 192 journeys to accommodate increased demand during the Hajj season.
Rayan Al-Harbi, the railway’s operations and maintenance director, was quoted as saying that each Hajj train had more than 830 seats, compared to the 417 in place during regular trips the rest of the year.
Additionally, Al Harbi said that the inauguration of the high speed railway’s fifth station, located at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, will help worshippers arrive at Makkah directly after flying in. More
By Bernd Debusmann Jr arabianbusiness.com
