Mashair railway ready for Haj
Train operator has already begun experimental operations, which will run till Oct 1
The Saudi Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry has said the Mashair Railway project is set begin transporting pilgrims during the upcoming Haj season.
The company that operates the train has already started experimental operation, which will continue until October 1, during which maintenance work will be carried out at the project’s three stations, the ministry said.
In total, there are 20 trains, each of which is 300m long and has the capacity to carry 3,500 pilgrims per trip. The trains will be transporting about 72,000 pilgrims in one hour, and over six hours they will be transporting 500,000 pilgrims from Makkah to Mina and then from Mina to Arafat.
Each train would cross the distance between Arafat and Mina in just 13 minutes, while it would take only seven minutes for the trip between Arafat and Muzdalifah, the ministry noted.
