Vision of future for Saudi rail

A French rail company has revealed plans to establish a high-speed rail network in Saudi Arabia, linking Jeddah and Madina with a journey time of just 90 minutes.

Alstom Transport, which recently tested the world’s fastest train, says its proposed network will be capable of transporting millions of Haj and Umrah pilgrims at speeds of up to 400km per hour, according to a report by the Saudi Gazette.

Alstom SVP Francois Lacote revealed plans for the 500 seat double-decker trains at the French Technology Exhibition in Riyadh on Saturday. The project, connecting Madina, Makkah and Jeddah is to be presented ‘soon’ to the Saudi Ministry of Transport, Lacote said. “We will build it as soon as it is approved by the Saudi Ministry of Transport” he said.

Lacote said a feasibility study had been undertaken to ensure the network could withstand extreme temperatures in the kingdom. “With just a little modification, our technology can cope with the high temperatures in Saudi Arabia. We have been awarded to do a 400 mile railway network project in Morocco and the same model can be applied to Saudi Arabia” he said.

Alstom has formed a consortium of French and Saudi firms to handle infrastructure, electricity, signalling and civil works for the proposed project.

Saudi Arabia attracts more than two million pilgrims each year, currently transported across the country by 60-seat buses, which can take 10 hours to travel 400km.

The kingdom is planning to improve public transport with a massive national railway expansion project worth around $5 billion.

The Saudi Railway Organisation said in June six consortia would compete for the contract to build a 444 kilometre railway linking Madinah and Makkah. A-Rajhi Consortium, the Saudi Binladin Group, the Saudi Japanese Consortium, Al-Sholah Consortium, OHL International and Saudi Oger have all been approved to enter the next stage of the bidding process and would be invited to submit tenders over the coming months, the SRO said.

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YAY!
Posted by Hussain Motabagani, Khobar, Saudi Arabia on Monday 26 November 2007 at 15:00 UAE time


I remember using the TGV and the UK's Intercity as a kid and always wondered what it would be like to have somthing like those here. 
cross country rail is a bold and rightous step in the good direction. 
The congestion caused by limited flights between cities is something everyones complaining about. 
in addition local airfares by the flagship carirers are just too expensive and the cheap flights are always overbooked, delayed and in utter chaos. 
Many people are convinced that they shouldnt spend so much airfare for a 4 hour trip or so and have reverted to using the Dammam - Riyadh Express railway line instead of booking flights while other people take VIP luxury busses from Khobar. 
if a fast train can acheive transport in between dammam and khobar in 2.5 hours, everybody's happier, and we have ourselve a transport utopia (by our standards) 
 
And having a rail road run through some of the smaller towns is a big development aid for poorer rural communities. 
 
So i say "Aye" for train travel in KSA. 
P.S. bring us those cars with the bed cabins....seriously!

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