By Abdulaziz Ghazawi
JEDDAH — The Haramain Train Project includes noise reduction designs in residential areas, according to a source familiar with the project.
The source said the project would be completed in 2017 and operational in 2018.
“The testing of the train is ongoing from Madinah station to King Abdullah Economic City station. The project is in its second phase. The trip between Madinah and King Abdullah Economic City takes 61 minutes. The trip between King Abdullah Economic City and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah takes 36 minutes,” the source said.
A trip from King Abdulaziz International Airport to Al-Sulaimaniyah Station will take 14 minutes.
“The project has the capacity to transport 60 million passengers a year and the trains will run at a speed of 300 km per hour from Makkah to Madinah.
The contractor of the second phase is working around the clock to extend the railway and install the electricity cables. There are electricity cables extending from Rabigh all the way to Jeddah and Makkah,” the source said.
The trains to be used in the project are imported from Spain.
“There are eight trains so far but the project plans to import a total of 35 trains,” the source said.
