The Ministry of Transport in Saudi Arabia is taking up a comprehensive study in order to connect the Harmain High Speed Train to the Mashair Train as part of the strategic initiative to bolster the rail network of the Kingdom.
The planned developments’ objective is to offer enhanced transport services when it comes to Hajj pilgrims and also elevate the efficiency of the rail transport system in the Kingdom.
As per Saleh Al Jasser, the Minister of Transport and Logistics in Saudi Arabia, the prospective rail network can go on to connect the two sites, thereby offering a more seamless, streamlined, and efficient experience to the pilgrims.
The ministry, in partnership with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, is presently conducting an in-depth analysis of this opportunity for development.
Al Jasser also noted that almost 1.5 million passengers have gone on to utilise the Mashair Train in 2023 and added that more trips have been scheduled on the rail network in anticipation of a demand that’s high throughout the Hajj season.
The Surging Demand
Rail transportation is indeed emerging as a major player in Saudi Arabia’s transportation system, with the official data putting forth a notable surge when it comes to railway network use in the foregoing year.
It is well to be noted that in 2022, more than 5.8 million passengers were transported, reflecting a 115% surge as compared to the year before that.
Furthermore, more than 1.3 million pilgrims were conveyed via the A0l Mashaaer and Al Mugaddassah Metro throughout the 1443 AH Hajj season, while 23 million tonnes of minerals as well as goods were transported through trains, thereby marking a 9% jump as compared to 2021.
If in case it is approved, Saudi Arabia’s rail network expansion is all set to significantly elevate the nation’s transport system, pushing consistent growth throughout numerous sectors within the transport sector.
