Al-Haramain Train Project To Enter The Final Phase

The Saudi authorities have announced that the multi billion dollar Al Haramain Train project’s final phase will be signed soon. The project will be linking Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. The final phase will involve the purchase and installation of 35 trains, 13 carriages, traffic signs and railway track. The installation will be done for a price of $8bn (SR30 billion) by a Saudi-Spanish company. The company will also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the same for a period of 12 years.

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Rendered image of one of the train stations

The demolition work of some of the properties for the land for new Briman Bridge has begun, which has led to traffic deviation. The Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) report has #-Link-Snipped-# that this final phase is the most difficult one. This is because there should be co-ordination between the different departments so that travel in the Al Haramain Highway would not be affected. All teams have been working non-stop to finish the tasks in the given time duration. The Pilgrims’ Lounge has been completed and the new construction is being carried out at the Air Base Bridge. The provision of required number of labor and construction equipment has been stressed on in the report.

The whole project will have 153 bridges out of which 20 are already completed. Also 78 flood drainage canals will be constructed. The payment for the acquired properties will be based on the market-related prices. A committee formed from the officials of seven organizations will do the valuation for the properties acquired.

The route to be taken by the train will be Makkah, Madina, Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh and King Abdul Aziz International Airport. The Al-Haramain train will stop at these locations only. The travel time between Makkah and Jeddah will be less than half an hour and that between Madina and Jeddah will be less than two hours.

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