Gulf Construction Online - Haramain railway project to cost $11bn

Regional News

Haramain railway project to cost $11bn

01 July 2011

THE Haramain Railway, which will link the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with Jeddah, will cost about SR42 billion ($11 billion), according to a report by the Saudi Railway Organisation (SRO).

The high-speed rail project will bring about a dramatic improvement in transportation of pilgrims between the two holy cities, the SRO said, adding that it has been designed to accommodate 20 million passengers annually.

The 450-km Makkah-Madinah Rail Link is part of the major railway expansion project planned by the kingdom, which includes linking Jeddah with the Riyadh-Dammam Railway and North-South Railway systems.

Once the Haramain project is completed it will provide a secure and speedy transport means for pilgrims, the SRO said. “It will also contribute to the kingdom’s economic and social development,” it added.

Work on the Haramain Railway is reported to be progressing well with the government having completed acquisition of land for constructing rail tracks and stations. A number of bridges are under construction for the rail track.

The railway’s Jeddah station is likely to be located in Jamia Quwaiza as the Transport Ministry has acquired necessary land for the purpose, according to the Arab News.

It will have stations at King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh.

The railway would transport at least three million Haj and Umrah pilgrims annually, a feasibility study said. The Haj Ministry has forecast the number of pilgrims would cross 20 million within the next 25 years.

Referring to the ongoing civil works, a spokesman for SRO said: “This is the most difficult phase of the project as it involves identification of the final route and preparing the land by cutting rocks and filling holes.”

The designing and construction of railway stations would be done in the second stage in accordance with international standards, the SRO said.

All stations will have a common planning strategy but with individual distinctive designs for buildings representing their respective cities. The stations will provide a broad range of facilities and a superior passenger experience. The main station will have separate arrival and departure lounges, a VIP lounge, a helipad, 10 platforms, a mosque that can accommodate 600 people, a civil defence centre, and a parking area for 500 cars.

A number of contracts have been signed to implement the project. A consortium led by Al Rajhi Group won the main contract worth SR6.7 billion ($1.79 billion) for civil works. The Saudi Electricity Company has implemented a SR1.83 billion ($488 million) contract to electricity required by the railway network. The SEC will set up six main 380-kV power supply stations for the railway and establish 380 kV supply lines with a length of 245 km to link the six stations with the electricity network.