By TCN News,
London: Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK, an organisation working for the welfare and wellbeing of Hajj/Umrah Pilgrims welcomes the news that a high speed train between Makkah and Madinah is expected to start by January 2014.
After overcoming the issue of tragic deaths due to stampedes at Mina and Jamarat, road accidents emerged as the major reason for tragic deaths of Pilgrims. The Pilgrims had been suffering due to a hazardous journey specifically from Jeddah to Makkah/Madinah.
This new high speed train which will also link with the Jeddah airport will bring a revolution in the transport system in Saudi Arabia for Hajj/Umrah Pilgrims. This fast train facility will help millions of Pilgrims including disabled, sick, and elderly from all over the world to avoid hardship and difficulty and will protect innocent human lives which are being lost due to tragic road accidents.
This includes a number of British Hajj/Umrah Pilgrims who have tragically died in road accidents during Hajj in the past. The tragic death of a British couple who were burned alive in 2011 in a bus while travelling from Jeddah to Makkah; caused tremendous amount of grief and distress to the Muslim community in the UK.
“On behalf of the British Muslims, we would like to convey our heartiest congratulations to the custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah and the transport Minister of Government of Saudi Arabia Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry to make this long awaited project become a reality and to enable millions of Pilgrims from all over the world to perform a safe Hajj/Umrah with ease and comfort”, said Khalid Pervez, General Secretary, Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK.