A total of 418 earmarked properties are expected to be demolished to make way for the SR6 billion Haramain High-Speed Rail (HHR) that will connect Makkah, Madina and Jeddah, according to an official from the Roads and Transportation Administration in the Makkah Region. An official said plans have also been completed to change the Air Base and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz (Tahlia) bridges to take into account the train's route. Also, work is underway to amend the route of the three remaining bridges, which will determine the properties that will have to be removed. The official said that buildings have not yet been demolished in the Al-Haramain Planned District, west of the Haramain Highway, but this would be decided in the coming few weeks after plans are received from the consultant handling the project. He said the Committee for the Assessment of Properties held a meeting last week to determine the manner in which the work would be undertaken, but there have now been delays because of changes to the plan taking place in the eastern part of Jeddah. The official said that initial work would focus on the Al-Haramain Road Area, particularly the train station in Jeddah connecting both stations in Makkah and Madina. He said the first area they would start work is the Al-Sulaimania District because it is linked to the Al-Haramain Road. In another development, 450 workers and over 300 machines are engaged in working on the 70 km long section of the project. He added that the train's route passes through plains, mountains, low lying areas and valleys, where bridges and passageways for camels will be built. The train's route will have 93 bridges, four tunnels, 13 passageways for camels and 141 floodwater drainage channels. The route will be filled with 90 million cubic meters of high quality soil. Also, 31 million cubic meters of rock will be cut to make way for the project. The Haramain High-Speed Rail forms part of the Saudi Railways Organization's (SRO) plan to improve traveling conditions for pilgrims between the holy cities and other parts of the country. This part of the railway line is 440 kilometers long, linking Jeddah, Madina and Makkah and is expected to be completed in December 2012. The project will be executed in phases. Part 1 of phase 1 includes the civil works of the railway, extending from Makkah to Madina, which will pass through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The first line will run from Jeddah to Makkah and the second will run from Jeddah to Madina. Part 2 of phase 1 includes the construction of five train stations (located in Makkah Central, Jeddah Central, Jeddah Airport, King Abdullah Economic City, and the Knowledge Economic City). Phase 2 comprises the railway tracks, signaling and communication systems, and operations and maintenance. The SRO also plans to build a 950 kilometer track between Riyadh and Jeddah; and a 115 kilometer long track between Dammam and Jubail.
