JEDDAH — Ticket fares for the high-speed Haramain Railway have been carefully considered according to in-depth studies and analysis by specialists and will be suitable for all, Al-Eqtisadiah business daily reported quoting Transport Minister Abdullah Al-Muqbel. “There will be first and business classes on the train and the ticket prices have been designed to suit everyone regardless of the distance,” he said. Al-Muqbel expected the northern sector of the railway project extending from Rabigh on the Red Sea to Madinah to be competed by the end of the year. “The railway extending from Makkah to Madinah through Jeddah with a length of a little over 450 km will be in operation by the end of 2016 when the test run of the express train will be made,” he said. The minister said delays in the implementation of the project were discussed several times with contractors who were asked to increase productivity and speed up work. “We are determined to avoid any further delays by working 24 hours a day in shifts,” he said. Al-Muqbel attributed the delays to a number of reasons including water and electricity connections and traffic detours that were finalized in collaboration with the Directorate General of Traffic and the Makkah Governorate. “Private properties also intersected the railway. We had to make strenuous efforts to find alternative passages.” The minister said a permanent committee consisting of various concerned governments departments has been established to deal with any problem facing contractors and to speed up the implementation process. “These steps had positive results and one contractor was able to build three bridges at the same time,” he said. The project consists of electric rail lines between Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah as well as modern signals and communications systems. The trains will use fast locomotives manufactured according to the latest international standards. In addition to railway stations in Makkah and Madinah, the train will have stops in Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh.
