RIYADH: Saudi Railways is stepping up its services on the Haramain Express route during Hajj season this year to provide more than 3,400 journeys that will offer more than 1.5 million seats for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

This means the high-speed train service, which makes it possible for pilgrims to travel between Makkah and Madinah in only two hours and 20 minutes, will complete 126 journeys a day on the route.

Rayan Al-Harbi, Haramain’s vice president, confirmed that all operational plans adopted by Saudi Railways for Hajj season are in place.

During Ramadan this year, the Haramain Express service carried more than 818,000 passengers on more than 2,540 train journeys, a 265 percent increase on the same period last year.