By IINA,
Dammam : The Al Rajhi Consortium has won the SR6.79 billion contract for implementation of the Haramain Railway project linking the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Saudi Transport Minister Jabara Al Seraisry said the Makkah-Madinah Rail Link project with high-speed trains would be an ideal solution to transportation problems faced by millions of pilgrims each year. “The conclusion of the contract is the result of the great efforts made by Saudi Railway Organization (SRO), the General Investment Fund and the advisers of the project over the past weeks to scrutinize tenders submitted by various eligible corporations,” Al Seraisry, who is also chairman of SRO, said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency yesterday.
Abdul Aziz Al Huqail, President of SRO), said that the contract involves undertaking the civil works, the first part for laying rail lines from Makkah to Madinah passing through Jeddah city and King Abdul Aziz International Airport. The stations will be built in the second part of the first phase and will be completed in three years from the date of signing the contract, he said. Al Huqail said the Haramain express train is distinguished for its high speed at about 360 km per hour and covers the distance between Jeddah and Makkah in 30 minutes while the trip between Jeddah and Madinah will approximately take two hours.
The consortium, led by the Mada and Al-Rajhi groups, both local, saw off a joint bid of SR8.3 billion in the final round by the consortiums led by Saudi Binladin Group and Spain’s Obrascon Huarte Lain (OHL). Al-Rajhi Consortium is expected to begin work before the end of this year on civil works and stations for the 444-km long, high speed railway. The line will link the two holy cities via Jeddah, Rabegh and King Abdullah Economic City.
The Haramain railway will provide a huge boost to Saudi Arabia’s tourism infrastructure, linking the country’s main aviation and marine gateway in Jeddah to the two holy cities. It will also alleviate traffic congestion on the roads particularly during Haj and Umrah seasons. The project is due to be completed by 2013. The winning Al Rajhi Alliance also includes China Railway Engineering Corporation and France’s Alstom Transport.
The Haramain train project has been designed in a manner to provide a safe and fast means of transportation for pilgrims and local passengers and it comes within the developmental projects being carried out by the government in the service of pilgrims, visitors, and service seekers.