RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Haramain Express is prepared to meet expected demand for train trips during this year’s Hajj season.
The Saudi Arabian Railways, in coordination with the operators of Haramain Express, said they plan to operate more than 3,800 train trips, providing over 1.6 million seats, or an increase of more than 100,000 seats compared with last year.
By connecting Makkah with Madinah via a double railway line, the Haramain express provides safe transportation for pilgrims, Umrah performers and travelers between the two holy cities and the city of Jeddah.
Haramain Express Train is considered one of the ten fastest electric trains globally reaching speeds of 300 km per hour and utilizing advanced signaling and communications systems, according to Saudi Press Agency.
Launched in September 2018, it is a crucial part of the development plan and expansion program in the Saudi railway network. The project connects the main cities in the Western Region, addressing the growing demand to serve increasing numbers of internal and external pilgrims and reducing congestion on the roads in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.
The Haramain Express Railway is a 453-km long express railway linking Madinah and Makkah. It has a 449-km line from Makkah to Madinah and a 3.75-km branch connection to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

JEDDAH: Sheikh Aima Diakite, President of the Superior Council of Imams of Mosques and Islamic Affairs in Ivory Coast, has praised the services and facilities provided by the Makkah Route Initiative.
Diakite said the program has enabled pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals easily and comfortably.
The Makkah Route Initiative has facilitated procedures for Ivorian pilgrims and worked on overcoming all difficulties and obstacles in order to alleviate the hardship of Hajj, Diakite told state news agency SPA.
Saudi Arabia in 2019 launched the Makkah Route Initiative to help Hajj pilgrims from seven countries — Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye and Ivory Coast — with their visa, customs and passport requirements.
Pilgrims arriving from Jordan and Palestine have also expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for organizing the Hajj process and caring for pilgrims. 
Meanwhile, more than 20,000 pilgrims have arrived from Iraq through the Jadidat Arar border crossing of the Kingdom’s Northern Border Region, ahead of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, and were provided with security, health and guidance services by 194 volunteers.

Over at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, 7,808,112 worshippers and visitors have visited the daily prayers last week, according to SPA.