Dutch consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV says it has been appointed to carry out a detailed market study for the 449km Haramain High Speed Railway which connects Makkah to Madinah, via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City.
The railway is operated by the Al-Shoula Consortium (on behalf of the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO)) and is said to have selected Royal HaskoningDHV for the “company’s expertise in railways and transport planning” to undertake the market study.
Royal HaskoningDHV, which has recently provided consulting engineering services for a new state-of-the-art logistics park in Jeddah, said it will draw on its international expertise to undertake an extensive survey programme along the full railway corridor and at key station locations along the route.
The firm added that the surveys will examine “in detail current travel patterns, potential passenger profiles, economic characteristics and customer expectations” towards the rail service. They are planned to be executed at strategically identified sites such as highway check points, bus and taxi interchanges in Makkah and Jeddah, key locations in King Abdulaziz International Airport terminals, and on board the new railway service.
Royal HaskoningDHV’s technical analysis will help the SRO to identify its most likely customer passenger levels and their needs. It will also help to develop targeted operations strategies to offer passengers the most suitable and efficient services. A comprehensive technical analysis will be subsequently carried out to examine future travel demand and estimate passenger demand forecasts for the new high speed railway.
“Royal HaskoningDHV has been working in the Middle East for over 50 years and our local knowledge of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, combined with our international expertise in railways and transport planning, makes us well placed to undertake this important market study. Our work will enable the government in Saudi Arabia to deliver this world-class high speed railway service for the country,” said Dr Marwan Al-Azzawi, director of Transport and Planning, Royal HaskoningDHV.