Saudi Arabia’s Haramain high-speed railway opens to public

Saudi Arabia’s Haramain high-speed train started its commercial operations on Thursday between Mecca and Medina.

The operations kicked off in the presence of Rumaih Al-Rumaih, Public Transport Authority Chief and Acting President of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO).

Rumaih said this was a historical national achievement regarding modern transportation in the kingdom and voiced his pride in the project noting that passengers from all ages are also proud of it.

He also praised the role of young national competencies in helping the project succeed and said that today’s journey kicked off from Mecca to Medina under the leadership of a young Saudi man, Captain Abdulrahman al-Shahri.

The high-speed train will operate on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the number of trips will be gradually increased to include all weekdays, he said, adding that the duration of the trip will gradually decrease to two hours for direct journeys between Mecca and Medina and to two hours and 20 minutes for journeys between Mecca and Medina and which include stops at the Jeddah station and at the King Abdullah Economic City station.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz launched the high-speed railway linking Mecca and Medina at a ceremony held in Jeddah in September. The project has reportedly been built at a cost of more than $16 billion.

Rumaih thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unlimited support and for launching this railway project which is considered the largest in the Middle East.

He also thanked Mecca’s Governor Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud and Medina’s Governor Faisal bin Salman for their significant roles and help in overcoming difficulties faced during the execution of the project, as well as thanking Minister of Transport Nabeel bin Mohammed Alamudi and other relevant ministers, officials and departments which contributed to finalizing this mega national project.

Tickets can be booked online.