On October 17, Saudi Arabia began the first test with Talgo train on the high-speed line linking Jeddah and Mecca, as the southern section of Haramain HSR.
“The high-speed rail project is the most important project in Saudi Arabia and it will link Jeddah and Mecca and Al-Medina,” Bashar Al-Malik, CEO of Saudi Railway Company said.
“The success of the test run will push forward the efforts to finish the line leading from Mecca to Al-Madina,” President of Saudi Railway Organisation, Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih said.
The USD 16.5 billion Haramain high-speed line will link the two holy cities Mecca and Medina, having intermediate stations at Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport (in Jeddah) and KAEC.
In July, the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has conducted the first complete trial run of the Haramain high-speed train from Jeddah to Medina.
The 450 km line will cut the travel between Macca and Jeddah to 21 minuts and from Jeddah to King Abdulaziz Airport to 14 minutes, from here, to Rabigh, the travel time will be 36 minutes and to Madina, 61 minutes.
It is estimated that the line will transport 60 million passengers per year, with trains running at speeds of 300 km/h, supplied by Talgo company. Each train will have 13 cars providing 417 seats, with a total length of 215 meters.
Spanish Al-Shoula consortium is equipping the new line and will operate and maintain it for 12 years. Renfe is a member of the consortium.
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