The Al-Haramain High Speed Rail project is progressing well, according to Jabara bin Eid Al-Suraiseri, the minister of transport.
He said technical and supervisory committees carry out tours on a weekly and monthly basis. The government is monitoring the performance of contractors through periodic reports and field visits, he said.
The railway, which is 450 km in length, is being developed under the guidance of the Ministry of Transport and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, said Al-Suraiseri, during a tour of the project on Thursday. “The work of the first phase is going according to schedule,” the minister said.
He said work is taking place at a number of intersections in Jeddah, including the intersections on King Abdullah Street, Palestine Street, Tahliah Street and the Airport Road.
Al-Suraiseri said that the second phase of the project involves the supply and installation of iron bars, signaling systems, communications systems, the electrification of the lines, and the supply of passenger trains and maintenance equipment.
The minister was assured by the contractor that the work would be completed on time. The minister’s tour included an inspection of Madinah station to Rabigh station and the route from Jeddah down to the Makkah station.
The project includes the construction of four stations for passengers in Madinah, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, Jeddah, and Makkah. Each station will include a main building, arrival and departure halls, a mosque, a Civil Defense center, helipads, passenger waiting areas, short and long-term car parking, VIP halls, shops, restaurants and cafes. These stations have been linked to the public transportation system through the provision of bus stops.
So far, 600 out of 850 flood drains have been developed and completed, in addition to 102 out of 137 bridges.
Always better than using the highways. Man, that's a pain in the ***.
