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Haramain High Speed Railway

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Haramain High Speed Railway
Overview
Native nameقطار الحرمين السريع
StatusOperational[1]
Termini
Stations5
Websitesar.hhr.sa
Service
TypeIntercity, high-speed railway
Operator(s)Saudi Arabia Railways
Rolling stock Talgo 350 SRO
Ridership6.97 million (2023)[2]
History
Opened11 October 2018; 6 years ago (11 October 2018)
Technical
Line length453.0 kilometres (281.5 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV AC, 60 Hz overhead catenary[3][4]
Operating speed300 km/h (186 mph)
Route map

The Haramain High Speed Railway (Arabic: قطار الحرمين السريع, romanized: qiṭār al-ḥaramayn as-sarīʿ, Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [ɡɪtˤaːr alħarameːn asːariːʕ], abbreviated HHR), is a passenger railway serving the Mecca and Medina provinces in western Saudi Arabia. The 449.2-kilometre-long (279.1 mi) main line directly connects the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina (collectively known as the Haramain), via Jeddah and the King Abdullah Economic City. A 3.75-kilometre (2.33 mi) branch line provides connections to the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. It opened to the public on 11 October 2018.

The HHR has a service speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), making it the first high-speed railway in Saudi Arabia.[4] Construction began in March 2009 and the railway was officially inaugurated on 25 September 2018,[5] opening to the public on 11 October 2018.[6]

History

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Construction

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Construction began in March 2009, and the project was originally slated for completion in 2012. Having opened in 2018, the HHR took six years longer to complete than anticipated.[7] The total contract value was approximately US$9.4 billion.[8][9]

2019 Al-Sulimaniyah–Jeddah Station fire

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On 29 September 2019, less than a year after the opening of the line, a massive fire broke out at the Al Sulimaniyah–Jeddah Station in southern Jeddah, injuring several people and resulting in the station being completely destroyed.[10] Firefighters took 12 hours to bring the fire under control, and the fire was traced back to the fibre-reinforced plastic roof panels, although the reason behind the panels catching fire remains unknown.[11] A 1.5-kilometre (0.93 mi) bypass line was constructed around the station to avoid disruption to services between Mecca and Medina.[12]

COVID-19 suspension

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HHR services were suspended on 20 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Services between Mecca and Medina resumed on 31 March 2021.[13]

Engineering

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Design

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The Saudi Railways Organisation commissioned Dar Al-Handasah to prepare the concept design of the project. Dar Al-Handasah was also assigned to supervise the construction and manage the HHR. Their design incorporated one cut-and-cover tunnel, 46 rail bridges, 9 wadi bridges, 5 rail underpasses, 53 vehicular overpasses, 30 vehicular underpasses, 12 camel crossings, 5 stations, and 3 depots.[14]

The double-track line is electrified and has a maximum design speed of either 320 km/h (200 mph)[4][8] or 360 km/h (224 mph).[15][16] However, trains are limited to a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) while in service.[17][18] The 77-kilometre (48 mi) ride from Mecca to Al-Sulimaniyah–Jeddah takes 43 minutes at an average speed of around 107 km/h (66 mph), while the 449-kilometre (279 mi) ride between the two termini, Mecca and Medina, takes around 2 hours.[19] The track, rolling stock, and stations are designed to withstand temperatures ranging from 0 °C (32 °F) to 50 °C (122 °F).[20] It was expected that the HHR will transport 60 million passengers a year on 35 trains,[21] with a seating capacity of 417 per train.[22]

Construction

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Construction was divided into two phases. The 6.79 billion riyal (US$1.81 billion) contract for Package 1 of Phase I was awarded to Al Rajhi Alliance in March 2009.[17] The alliance consists of the Chinese China Railway Construction Corporation, the French Bouygues, and Saudi companies Al Arrab Contracting Company and Al Suwailem Company, in cooperation with the Saudi consulting company Khatib and Alami and with management support from the British Scott Wilson Group.[23]

The Phase I second package covered the design of the Makkah, Madinah, Al-Sulimaniyah–Jeddah, and Airport–Jeddah stations, and was awarded in April 2009 to Foster+Partners and Buro Happold, at a price of US$38 million.[24][25][26][27] In February 2011, the construction contracts were awarded to a joint venture between Saudi Oger and El Seif Engineering for both stations in Jeddah and the KAEC station, the Saudi Binladin Group for Makkah Station, and the Turkish Yapı Merkezi for Madinah Station.[24]

Phase II of the project involved the remaining infrastructure: track, signalling, telecommunications, power, and electrification, among others. It also included procurement of rolling stock and covered maintenance for 12 years after completion.[8] Prequalified consortia for Phase II included the Saudi Binladin Group, Badr Consortium, Al-Shoula Group, and Al-Rajhi Alliance, in addition to the Chinese CSRG.[28] On 26 October 2011, the Saudi Railways Organization announced that the Al‑Shoula Group, which consisted of 14 Saudi and Spanish companies including Talgo, Renfe, ADIF, COPASA, Indra Sistemas, Siemens mobility, OHL, and Al Shoula, had been chosen for the contract.[29][30]

Rolling stock

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As part of the contract of construction Phase II, Talgo was to supply 35 Renfe Class 102 (marketed as Talgo 350) trains at a price of 1.257 billion euros, with options for 23 more for 800 million euros.[8][31][32] Renfe and Adif would operate the trains and maintain the line for 12 years.[8] Ultimately, 36 Talgo 350 SRO trains were ordered, with one equipped with a dual hybrid coach pair for up to 20 or 30 VIPs.[33] The propulsion and bogies were made at Bombardier factories in Spain.[34][35]

Stations

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There are five stations on the line.

The Makkah Central Station is located near the 3rd Ring Road, in Rusaiyfah District near the Rusaiyfah park and ride to the Grand Mosque. The Jeddah Central Station is located on Haramain Road, in Al-Naseem District. The railway alignment route is on the median of the Haramain road. Medina has a passenger station. A station, connected via branch line, is built in the new King Abdulaziz International Airport.[15]

According to Saudi Railways Organisation the stations are "aesthetically iconic" buildings with designs which take into account Islamic architectural traditions. They have shops, restaurants, mosques, car parking, a helipad and VIP lounges. Stations were designed by Buro Happold and Foster + Partners.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Makkah to Medina in 90 minutes: Saudi king launches new Haramain rail service". ArabianBusiness.com.
  2. ^ Smith, Kevin (29 April 2024). "Haramain high-speed passengers exceed 1 million during Ramadan". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  3. ^ Torga, Ferran (14 February 2017). "Haramain high-speed crawls towards the start of operations". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Alvarez-Maldonado Paramés, Javier (12 March 2013). "Haramain High Speed Railway: Fase II. Alcance del Proyecto" (PDF) (in Spanish). Colegio de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos [es]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2014.
  5. ^ Kalin, Stephen. "Saudi Arabia opens high-speed train linking Islam's holiest cities". U.S. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  6. ^ "Pictures: Saudi Arabia opens high-speed railway to public". GulfNews. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Saudi high-speed train links holy cities". BBC News. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Spanish consortium wins Haramain High Speed Rail contract". Railway Gazette International. 26 October 2011. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Un consorcio español logra el AVE La Meca-Medina por 6.736 millones". Europa Press (in Spanish). 26 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Fire engulfs new Saudi high-speed rail station in Jeddah | DW | 29.09.2019". www.dw.com. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Jeddah station fire: Why were people on the roof?". al-bab.com. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Haramain launches Jeddah airport service at 300 km/H". www.railwaygazette.com. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Saudi Arabia's Haramain train operations resume on Wednesday". Arab News. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Dar Al-Handasah - Work - Haramain High Speed Rail (HHSR)". www.dar.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Project brief". Saudi Railways Expansion Programme. Archived from the original on 18 December 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  16. ^ Briginshaw, David (18 October 2017). "First Haramain test run to Mecca conducted". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Al Rajhi wins Makkah – Madinah civils contract". Railway Gazette International. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  18. ^ "Proyecto Meca-Medina Asamblea de la PTFE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2012.
  19. ^ "Train Schedule". www.hhr.sa. Haramain High Speed Rail. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Haramain High Speed Rail Project, Saudi Arabia". railway-technology.com. Net Resources International, a trading division of SPG Media Limited. 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  21. ^ "Saudi Haramain Train to Start Service in September". Al Bawaba. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  22. ^ "KSA's Haramain train speeds toward a 2018 opening". Arab News. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Haramain High Speed Rail project manager appointed". Railway Gazette International. 6 January 2010. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  24. ^ a b c "Haramain High Speed Rail station construction contracts signed". Railway Gazette International. 16 February 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  25. ^ a b "High speed stations for a high speed railway". Railway Gazette International. 23 April 2009. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  26. ^ "Foster + Partners and Buro Happold joint venture to design four stations for Saudi Arabia's new Haramain High-speed Railway". Foster and Partners. Archived from the original on 3 October 2009.
  27. ^ "Joint venture to design four stations for Saudi Arabia's new high speed railway". Buro Happold. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009.
  28. ^ "Phase 2". Saudi Railways Expansion Programme. Saudi Railways Organization. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  29. ^ "ADIF participation in phase 2". Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  30. ^ "Adjudicado al consorcio español el contrato de alta velocidad en Arabia Saudí" (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  31. ^ "Talgo se adjudica el contrato de Arabia. Patentes Talgo". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  32. ^ "Page 188 Mario Oriol from Talgo in UIMP Seminary" (PDF).
  33. ^ "Train manufacturer and supplier for the Haramin project".
  34. ^ "Bombardier to supply components for Haramain High Speed Rail trains". Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  35. ^ 4-traders. "Talgo : Haramain high-speed train ready for launch | 4-Traders". Retrieved 9 July 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ "Jeddah airport linked to reopened Haramain high-speed line". 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  37. ^ "Jeddah Sulaymaniyah Haramain station resumes operation today". 13 July 2021.
  38. ^ "Phase 1 (Package 2) – Stations". Saudi Railways Expansion Programme. Saudi Railways Organization. Archived from the original on 26 December 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2010.

Further reading

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