Haramain High-Speed Rail Network: Phase 2

13 October 2013

Key Facts

  • Owner Saudi Railways Organisation
  • Parent Project SRO - Haramain High-Speed Rail Network (HHR)
  • Location Saudi Arabia, Mecca Province
  • Status Execution
  • Classification Railway, Transport Infrastructure
  • Budget ($m) $9,484m
  • Contract Type Build
  • Main Contract Completion Q1 2016
  • Contact the project owner (MEED Projects subscribers only)

Overview

Construction has begun on Saudi Arabia’s Haramain high-speed railway, the first high-speed line to be built in the GCC.

The line will connect the Muslim holy cities of Medina and Mecca via King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Rabigh, Jeddah. From KAEC it will connect into the national rail network and link up to King Abdulaziz International Airport.

The aim of the line is to alleviate road traffic between Medina and Mecca, especially during the pilgrimage season. The 450km track will be capable of handling speeds of up to 320km per hour. The route stretches 444km and will feature up to seven stations.

Stations include two in Mecca (one near the grand mosque, the other on the city outskirts), two in Jeddah (at the airport and in the city centre), one in Rabigh and one in Medina, about 3km from the Holy Mosque. Up to 100 trains a day will run on the line.

Journey times on the 72 km long Jeddah-Mecca route will be 30 minutes, while the 372km Jeddah to Medina section will take two hours.

Major contracts under phase 2 of the project were awarded in 2011, with the largely Spanish consortium led by local firm Al-Shoula Group signing a $7.9bn contract for the construction contract. The other members of the consortium included six Spanish companies: Talgo, Indra, OHL, Dimetronic, Renfe and Adif.

Phase two comprises the construction of the railway tracks, installation of signalling and telecommunication systems, electrification, construction of the operational control centre, the procurement of 35 trains and the operation and maintenance of the railway.

Phase one of the project covered the construction of the track bed, bridges, embankments and cuttings. The contract was awarded in 2009 to Al-Rajhi Alliance, a consortium including Chinese and Saudi firms, with China Railway Engineering and France’s Alstom Transport.

The project was previously known as the Mecca-Medina Rail Link.

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