JEDDAH: Ninety six percent of the Haramain High Speed Rail Project in Jeddah and Makkah has been completed.
The contractors would by the end of this year complete bridges along the railway line in Jeddah, including those removed three years ago in preparation for the project, such as the Briman, Palestine and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Road bridges, sources said.
All work, including construction of bridges and extension of rails, is on schedule, said the sources. The Saudi Railways Organization has been working with the Saudi Electricity Company and National Water Company to provide services to stations.
Trial runs of the high-speed train between Madinah and Rabigh are scheduled to take place after Ramadan, while trials between Jeddah and Makkah has been postponed to the beginning of 2016. The train between Madinah and Rabigh will be operational by the end of 2015, and between Makkah and Jeddah by the end of 2016.
Sources said some of the construction is the responsibility of the Jeddah Municipality, while the Ministry of Transport is overseeing construction of the bridges. Bridges will have no traffic lights or stop signs to ensure smooth traffic flow.
The Saudi Electricity Company had announced in April 2011 contracts with national and international companies worth SR1.75 billion for six electricity and power transmission lines as part of the Haramain Rail project, as well as engineering, design, and supply of six core switching stations and double circuit electric power transmission lines.
Work would also include communications and connectivity capabilities between the central and western regions.
Madinah to Rabigh train trial run after holy month
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