High-speed rail services between the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina broke a new record during the month of Ramadan, by carrying 1.09 million passengers. To address pilgrims' transportation requirements during this Islamic month when visiting the two holy cities, the Haramain High-Speed Railway implemented a special plan.
The Consortium operating this train in coordination with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), which includes participation from Renfe's Saudi branch, has thus achieved a 17% increase compared to the numbers recorded during the Ramadan 2023 programme, when it carried 927,000 passengers.
From March 11th to April 13th, 3,163 train services were scheduled, representing a 41% increase over the regular schedule: from 66 to 93 services per day, with an average punctuality rate of 97.4%.
In addition, the Haramain High-Speed Railway achieved its highest passenger numbers in March 2024 since services commenced in October 2018. Specifically, this month saw over 851,250 passengers.
With the goal of becoming the primary means of transportation between the cities holy to Islam, the Saudi high-speed line reinstated night trains during this special program to accommodate the mobility needs following iftar (the daily breaking of the fast after sunset). For this purpose, trains were scheduled to depart at 3:00 am and arrive at 5:25 am.
Adapted services
In parallel, the Saudi high-speed rail service adapted its schedules to accommodate the timings of worship areas, offered a variety of promotions to boost bookings from pilgrim groups and families, and established a special reception centre at the Medina station to ease the transit of travellers.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway continues to see growth in its commercial activity. In 2023, it registered 6.97 million passengers, marking its highest annual user count to date. This passenger volume represented a 90% increase from the 3.67 million in 2022, which was the first complete year following the COVID-19 pandemic.