Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud inaugurated the 450-km Haramain High-Speed Rail at a ceremony held in Jeddah today (September 25).

 

Upon arrival at the passenger station, King Salman was received by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, advisor to the King and Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Mishaal bin Majid bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah Province; Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, and Nabil bin Mohammed Al-Amoudi, Minister of Transport, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

 

King Salman was then briefed on the services rendered to passengers at the station. He watched a documentary film on the project.

 

King Salman inaugurated the first Jeddah-Madinah journey. Announcing the inauguration of Haramain High-Speed Rail, he said: "We thank Allah for the growth and prosperity in all fields in our country, and we thank Allah Almighty for His grace.. Thank you."

 

Dr Nabil bin Mohammed Al-Amoudi, Minister of Transport, delivering a speech at the event, said the railway covered 450 km in length and will have a capacity to serve 60 million passengers annually.

 

The 450-km train line connects the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with stations at Jeddah, King Abdul Aziz International Airport, and King Abdullah Economic City.

 

The project, the region’s first high-speed electric train, can carry 60 million passengers a year with a fleet of 35 trains containing 417 seats each.

 

The designs of the stations of the Haramain rail were inspired by the unique Islamic architecture of the cities of Makkah and Madinah.