Saudi Railway Organization (SRO) has signed a SR382 million ($101.9 million) contract with Saudi Archirodon for construction of dual railway lines between Riyadh and Dammam for passenger trains, said a report.

The dual railway system is aimed at helping the smooth operation of speed trains by the end of 2011.

The dual railway system for both passengers and goods will be completed within one and a half years, Abdul Aziz Al-Hoqail, president of SRO, was quoted as saying by Arab News.

He said the proposed speed trains with a speed of 200 km/hour would reduce travel time between Dammam and Riyadh to less than three hours.

The SRO is also building 28 bridges over the Riyadh-Dammam railway to do away with level crossings that have caused several accidents in the past, the report said.

This will help improve railway safety and facilitate traffic flow, Al-Hoqail added.