| Haramain High Speed Rail project | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | High Speed Rail |
| System | Saudi Railway Organization |
| Status | Phase I under construction |
| Termini | Medina Mecca |
| Stations | 5 |
| Daily ridership | 38,000 |
| Website | Saudi Railways Organisation, Haramain High Speed Rail Project |
| Operation | |
| Opened | planned: November 2012 |
| Operator(s) | Saudi Railway Organization (with Adif and Renfe) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 444 kilometres (275.9 mi) |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| Operating speed | 320 km/h (200 mph) |
The Haramain High Speed Rail project also known as the "Western Railway", is a 444 kilometres (276 mi) high speed inter-city Rail transport system under construction in Saudi Arabia.[1] It will link the Muslim holy cities of Medina and Mecca via King Abdullah Economic City, Rabigh, Jeddah and King Abdulaziz International Airport. It will connect with the national network at Jeddah.
The rail line is planned to provide a safe and comfortable transport in 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph) electric trains. Construction started in March 2009. The railway is expected to carry three million passengers a year, including many Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, helping to relieve traffic congestion on the roads.[2][3] [4]
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The city of Mecca is the holiest place in Islam. Each year the city attracts about 2.5 million Hajj pilgrims and over two million Umrah performers during Ramadan and seasonal holidays. As Mecca has a resident population of 1.7 million, there is also heavy traffic on Fridays plus regular daily commercial traffic.
The city has little public transport available to residents and pilgrims. The only options available are personal vehicles, private taxis or commercial buses. During the Hajj period pilgrims are transported by a large fleet of buses. The Haramain project and the Mecca Metro were designed to satisfy the transportation needs of the large number of Hajj pilgrims, Umrah performers and the people of Mecca and Medina. In the next 25 years the number of pilgrims is expected to increase to more than three million and the number of Umrah performers to more than 11 million. The annual increase is expected to be 1.4% for pilgrims and 3.14% for Umrah performers.
A train service was chosen as the best option to provide fast, safe and comfortable travel for the pilgrims and to relieve the pressure on the roads connecting Mecca and Medina. The project is expected to boost local businesses and tourism.[2]
The double-track line will be electrified and the design speed is 360 kilometres per hour (220 mph).[5] Trains will run in service at 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph),[3] and travelling the 78 kilometres (48 mi) between Jeddah and Mecca will take less than half an hour, while the 410 kilometres (250 mi) between Jeddah and Medina will take about 2 hours.[3] The track, rolling stock and stations are designed to handle the temperatures ranging from 0 °C (32 °F) to 50 °C (122 °F).[2]
There will be five stations on the line at: Medina (Knowledge Economic City) at the north end of the line, King Abdullah Economic City-Rabigh, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah and Mecca in the south.[6][7] The Mecca Central Station will be located near the 3rd Ring Road. The Jeddah Central Station will be located on the Haramain Road. The railway alignment route will be on the median of the Haramain road. The Station in KAIA will be a terminus station. Medina will have only one passenger station. A station may be required for the Hajj Terminal at Jeddah Airport.[5]
According to Saudi Railways Organisation the stations will be 'aesthetically iconic' buildings with designs which take into account Islamic architectural traditions. They will have shops, restaurants, mosques, car parking, a helipad and VIP lounges. Stations were designed by Buro Happold and Foster + Partners.[8]
The 6·79 billion riyal (US$ 1.8 billion) design and construction contract for Phase I Package 1 – Civil Works for the project was awarded in March 2009 to Al Rajhi Alliance,[3] which comprises China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), Al Arrab Contracting Company Ltd, Al Suwailem Company and the French power and rolling stock company Alstom Transport. It is cooperating with the consultant Saudi Consolidated Engineering Company (Khatib & Alami - K&A). Scott Wilson Group will provide project management support.[9]
Phase I Package 2 covers construction of four of the five stations.[8] In April 2009, $38m worth of design contracts for the stations in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and King Abdul Aziz Airport were awarded to a joint venture between Foster & Partners and Buro Happold.[7][10][11] In February 2011 the station construction contracts were awarded to Saudi Bin Laden Group (Makkah and Madinah) and Saudi Oger (Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City).[8]
Phase 2 of the project includes the remaining infrastructure not included in Phase-1: track, signalling, telecommunications, power, electrification etc. It also includes procurement of rolling stock and operations & maintenance for a period of 12 years after completion.[1]
Prequalified consortia for HHR Phase 2 included: Saudi Binladin Group, Badr Consortium, China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock, Al-Shoula Group and Al-Rajhi Alliance.[12]
On 26 October 2011 Saudi Railways Organisation announced that the Saudi-Spanish consortium Al-Shoula Group which includes Talgo, Renfe, Adif and OHL had been chosen for the contract.[13][14] Talgo will supply 35 Talgo 350 trains similar to those used on Spanish high speed lines, with an option for 23 more.[1] Renfe and Adif will operate the trains and manage the line for 12 years.[1]
The total contract value is EUR 6.736 billion (Approximately US$9.4 billion).[1][15]
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