Saudi Arabia–Haramain High Speed Train makes First Trial run

Saudi Arabia–Haramain High Speed Train makes First Trial run

The Saudi Railways Organization conducted the first successful trial run of the Haramain High Speed Train on Tuesday,  July 28th, 2015, on a 100-kilometer stretch between King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh and Madinah

Transport Minister Abdullah Al-Muqbil, who is chairman of the board of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO), revealed that electricity has been connected through overhead lines for the Haramain High-Speed Railway network, according to Arab News. Al-Muqbil said the train has been tested on the line with a gradual speed of 300 km/h. Tests will continue for a few months until the efficiency of the train is verified.

The 450-kilometer high-speed railway — first of its kind in the kingdom and linking Makkah,  Madinah and Jeddah including Rabigh is expected to become fully operational next year, reducing the distance between the two holy cities to less than two hours, reported Saudi Gazette.

Saudi Arabia’s high speed express train linking Makkah-Jeddah-Madinah makes first trial run

The train will cross the distance between Jeddah and Makkah in 30 minutes and the distance between Makkah and Madinah in two and a half hours.

The minister expected King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Madinah to be linked to the railway line by the end of 2015, a report said.

Meanwhile, the train station in Jeddah is nearing completion, reported Arab News.

The Haramain trains are equipped with the latest signalling and communications system and provide the safest mode of high-speed rails with the latest techniques, a report said.

The project which consists of the construction of a training center in Dammam, is valued around $8 billion.

The picture shows top Saudi officials on the train during the trial run.