As the holy month of Ramadan begins across Saudi Arabia, the Haramain High-Speed Railway has unveiled an ambitious operational plan to serve the millions of worshipers and visitors traveling between Makkah and Madinah. Saudi Arabia Railways announced that more than 3,662 trips will be scheduled throughout Ramadan, offering over 1.7 million seats to meet surging demand.
A Record-Breaking Ramadan Season
The scale of this year’s Ramadan operations marks a significant step forward for the Kingdom’s premier rail service. With more than 100 daily trips planned, the railway will operate at peak capacity, aligning its schedules closely with prayer times and the movement patterns of Umrah performers and visitors traveling between the two holy cities.
The operational plan reflects Saudi Arabia Railways’ commitment to providing seamless connectivity during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The railway’s flexible scheduling ensures that passengers can travel comfortably regardless of the time of day, with services running from early morning through late evening to accommodate worshipers heading to the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
Speed, Comfort, and Reliability
The Haramain High-Speed Railway remains one of the fastest passenger rail services in the world, operating at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour along its 453-kilometer route. The line connects Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City, serving as a critical transport artery for the western region.
Since its launch in 2018, the railway has transformed how pilgrims and residents move between Saudi Arabia’s holiest cities. What was once a journey of several hours by road can now be completed in approximately two hours by train, offering travelers a modern, comfortable, and reliable alternative that aligns with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 transport objectives.
Supporting Vision 2030 Transport Goals
The Ramadan expansion comes on the heels of a broader growth trajectory for Saudi Arabia’s rail sector. Earlier this month, Spain’s transport ministry confirmed that the Spanish consortium operating the Haramain railway would continue managing services until 2038, with new trains on order to further expand capacity in the years ahead.
Saudi Arabia Railways has positioned the Haramain line as a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s transport modernization efforts, contributing to economic diversification by sustaining year-round visitor movement and supporting local economies along the route. The railway’s consistent performance during peak seasons like Ramadan and Hajj underscores its growing importance to the national infrastructure network.
