Assaf, Minister of Finance and Chairman of General Investments Fund, and Dr. Jabarah Bin Eid Al-Suraisiry, Minister of Transport, Saturday signing the SR30.8 billion final phase of the Al-Haramain Train project with the winning bidder, the Al-Sho'lahm consortium which consists of one Saudi and 14 Spanish companies. RIYADH — Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance and Chairman of General Investments Fund, and Dr. Jabarah Bin Eid Al-Suraisiry, Minister of Transport, Saturday signed the SR30.8 billion final phase of the Al-Haramain Train project. The contract was signed with Al-Sho'lahm consortium which consists of one Saudi and 14 Spanish companies. The ceremony was attended by Jose Manuel Garcia, Spain's Foreign Minister, Ana Pastor, Development Minister, and Pablo Bravo, Spanish Ambassador of the Kingdom. Abdul Aziz Al-Huqail, President o Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Misha'l Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Shu'alah Holding Group and President of Saudi-Spanish Alliance for Haramain Train Project, emphasized the importance of the train project and its role in the service of pilgrims and Umrah performers. He said the project started more than five years ago and that it was studied very carefully to bring about the best and latest technologies to run a high-speed train between the holy sites which is characterized by measures of global safety and comfort in implementation of the directives of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to provide best services using latest technologies to serve citizens, visitors, pilgrims and Umrah performers. The contract involves the purchase of 35 trains with 13 carriages, traffic signs and railway tracks, which will be installed by the Saudi-Spanish consortium. This phase will reportedly cost just over SR30 billion. It will include the consortium carrying out operations and maintenance for 12 years. Civil works for the project will be carried out by Al-Rajhi Consortium. They include the construction of train stations in Makkah, Madina, Jeddah and King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Economic City. There has already been major progress in the construction of bridges, flood drainage culverts and pedestrian walkways.
