The new Madinah railway station situated close to the Prince Muhammad Airport would serve Haj and Umrah pilgrims more efficiently.
It is the first high-speed passenger railway line between Makkah and Madinah. The construction is expected to be complete by January 2014.
According to a Al-Jazirah report, Mr. Al-Seraisry, Chairman, Saudi Railway Organisation said that “the work on the Haramain High Speed Rail Project between Makkah and Madinah is progressing on time and as planned.”
High Speed electric trains will roll through Jeddah on 480-km railway line very soon.
According to a Arab News report The first phase of the Haramain project includes the building of a railway station at Makkah and Madinah and two stations in Jeddah including the one at King Abdulaziz International Airport.
It further says that the Haramain railway is expected to carry more than 3 million passengers annually. According to statistics, more than 3.5 million pilgrims were transported between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah in 2005.
The same year saw more than 2 million Umrah pilgrims.
According to studies conducted by the Haj Ministry and published by Arab News demand for transporting Haj pilgrims is expected to double over the next 25 years and Umrah pilgrims will total 11 million.