UAE
Saudi Arabia Increases Haramain Rail Capacity to 1.6 Million Seats for Haj
The railway will operate 3,800 trips across 35 electric trains to ferry pilgrims between Makkah and Madinah.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway has increased its seating capacity to 1.6 million seats for the upcoming 1445 AH Haj season, representing a significant expansion of transport infrastructure between Saudi Arabia’s holy cities. Authorities confirmed that the rail network will operate over 3,800 scheduled trips throughout the pilgrimage period to manage the surge in visitor numbers. Expanded Fleet and Operations Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) will deploy its full fleet of 35 electric trains to facilitate movement between Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah. Each train consists of 13 cars with a 417-seat capacity. To meet peak demand, the operator will run "double trains," coupling two units to provide 834 seats per trip. This strategy aims to accommodate the millions of pilgrims arriving via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and those traveling between the Two Holy Mosques. The operational plan covers five key stations: Makkah Al Mukarramah, Madinah Al Munawwarah, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Jeddah Al Sulimaniyah, and King Abdullah Economic City. The high-speed line, which reaches speeds of 300km/h, reduces the travel time between Makkah and Madinah to…