By Abdul Aziz Ghazawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

Jeddah — The Haramain high-speed train will start commercial operations on Muharram 14 (Sept. 24) between Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah and Rabigh, according to sources.

All the carriages are ready for the operation after the successful completion of trial runs.

Railway stations in Makkah, Madinah and Rabigh are fully furnished while finishing touches are being finalized in Jeddah station.

Tickets are available from the Haramain High Speed Rail Project website.

There will be eight services daily on both sides until the end of this year.

From the beginning of next year, the services will be increased to 12. The frequency of trains will be increased in the future depending on the demand.

Earlier this month, Minister of Transport Nabeel Al-Amoudi inspected the preparedness of the Haramain High Speed Train between the sectors of Makkah and Jeddah.

Accompanied by Public Transport Authority Chief Rumaih Al-Rumaih and Saudi Railway Company CEO Bashar Al-Malik, he made inspection tour of the Jeddah Railway Station in Sulaimaniyah and Makkah Railway Station in Rusaifa and traveled on board the train between the two cities.