Saudi Arabia has rolled out a special metro train service for this year’s Haj season that will allow nearly 370,000 pilgrims to travel daily from Makkah to Arafat and help reduce traffic congestion, said a report.

The train service, which is exclusive for the Haj season, was flagged off on Monday,  reported the Press Trust of India.

It will commence operations between the Arafat One station and will head north toward Jamarat in Mina, stopping at the nine stations along the way, said the report citing the Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) company, which was awarded a three-year contract for operations and maintenance of the train network.

This year’s metro service will be carrying 370,000 passengers daily, Al Mashaer Al Muqaddassah Makkah Metro Southern Line (MMMSL) director of Operations Haji Mohammad Burhanuddin Esmail said.

Providing connectivity between Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina, the metro is expected to carry more than 370,000 pilgrims daily on the 18.1-km alignment.