Saudi Arabia to Inaugurate Longest Rail Linking Riyadh with Cities on Northern Borders

[Eminent Mainstream Media]

Did you bother to read this thread before commenting? As for the rest, it makes no sense. Anyway I am used to such kind of posts that make no sense from users from your part of the world. No offense.

Trains to use noise reduction technology​

Noise reduction technology will be applied on Haramain Trains passing through residential areas​

Oct 3, 2016

JEDDAH — The Haramain Train Project includes noise reduction designs in residential areas, according to a source familiar with the project.

The source said the project would be completed in 2017 and operational in 2018.

“The testing of the train is ongoing from Madinah station to King Abdullah Economic City station. The project is in its second phase. The trip between Madinah and King Abdullah Economic City takes 61 minutes. The trip between King Abdullah Economic City and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah takes 36 minutes,” the source said.

A trip from King Abdulaziz International Airport to Al-Sulaimaniyah Station will take 14 minutes.

“The project has the capacity to transport 60 million passengers a year and the trains will run at a speed of 300 km per hour from Makkah to Madinah.

The contractor of the second phase is working around the clock to extend the railway and install the electricity cables. There are electricity cables extending from Rabigh all the way to Jeddah and Makkah,” the source said.

The trains to be used in the project are imported from Spain.

“There are eight trains so far but the project plans to import a total of 35 trains,” the source said.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...on-technology/

Anyway in KSA everything other than using Arabian horses and camels as methods of land transportation are banned.

I don't think you understood what I was trying to say there- By now Saudi should already have had High speed railway network and Freight train networks across country in great numbers- The only thing which seems to have prevented this can only be oil companies- Which to a certain extent have also been the culprit in the US when It comes to railways-

Anyway- Its a good start and I hope It continues-

 

[flamer84]

I don't think you understood what I was trying to say there- By now Saudi should already have had High speed railway network and Freight train networks across country in great numbers- The only thing which seems to have prevented this can only be oil companies- Which to a certain extent have also been the culprit in the US when It comes to railways-

Anyway- Its a good start and I hope It continues-

Nope.They have cheap oil,probably the cheapest in the world,so,why not use it ?

 

[Eminent Mainstream Media]

Nope.They have cheap oil,probably the cheapest in the world,so,why not use it ?

It has consequences(climate and over dependence on oil)- Then there is car culture and the economy behind the sales of Vehicles- Saudi needs to buy cars so that European companies keep earning-

 

[Al-Andalus]

I don't think you understood what I was trying to say there- By now Saudi should already have had High speed railway network and Freight train networks across country in great numbers- The only thing which seems to have prevented this can only be oil companies- Which to a certain extent have also been the culprit in the US when It comes to railways-

Anyway- Its a good start and I hope It continues-

Yes, many things should and could have been done earlier and better. Like in every country. However things are changing for the better as you can see in this thread. I suggest you read post 3.

Anyway public transportation has not really been a big thing in KSA historically until now. People still prefer to use their own cars and the roads are in general of a good standard and there is a very extensive road transportation system in place in KSA. Inter-city highways in particular.

Besides having the lowest petrol prices in the world helps too.

 

[flamer84]

It has consequences(climate and over dependence on oil)- Then there is car culture and the economy behind the sales of Vehicles- Saudi needs to buy cars so that European companies keep earning-

It's called being responsable with their oil wealth,by trickling it some of it down the line,but this isn't happening because they're being forced.You know,sometimes,when they can afford it,people actually buy cars.

 

[Eminent Mainstream Media]

Yes, many things should and could have been done earlier and better. Like in every country. However things are changing for the better as you can see in this thread. I suggest you read post 3.

Anyway public transportation has not really been a big thing in KSA historically until now. People still prefer to use their own cars and the roads are in general of a good standard and there is a very extensive road transportation system in place in KSA. Inter-city highways in particular.

Besides having the lowest petrol prices in the world helps too.

Yes- Low fuel prices are a boon in fact-

However Railways are not Just means of transport- It is an Industry in itself- helps a lot in economy- and generates a lot of employment- I guess given the fuel prices in KSA railways would be much cheaper than already existing means of transport for goods- HSR can be a tourist's option-

It's called being responsable with their oil wealth,by trickling it some of it down the line,but this isn't happening because they're being forced.You know,sometimes,when they can afford it,people actually buy cars.

In this case they also buy just for the sake of buying- Money which could've been spent somewhere for more reasonable things like a Space program- or the Irrigation of the desert-

 

[Al-Andalus]

Large part of Gulf railway in Saudi completed

The GCC Supreme Council during the 37th Summit in Bahrain highlighted the importance of member-states’ commitment to implementation of the GCC railway project. (File photo: AFP)​

Staff writer, Al Arabiya English
Thursday, 8 December 2016

The conclusion of the 37th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Bahrain also saw moves to speed up the implementation of the major infrastructure project to link the Gulf countries through a train line to carry passengers as well as goods.

The Gulf railway will extend over 2,117 km and once it becomes operational, it is estimated to generate 80,000 jobs.

Abdullatif al-Zayani, the Secretary General of the GCC, has stressed at the end of the summit in Bahrain, that the Supreme Council highlighted the importance of the member-states’ commitment to the implementation of the railway project between GCC states.

Implementation
The council decided to send the draft project to the economic and development commission to establish the necessary mechanisms for its implementation on time, as requested by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

In this context, Dr Sulaiman al-Hamdan, Saudi Minister of Transport, told Al Arabiya that a large part of this project in Saudi Arabia has been completed.

The length of the rail track inside Saudi territory is 663 km.

The speed of trains transporting passengers is estimated at 220 km per hour (kmph), and those transporting goods will be between 80-120 kmph.

The locomotives will rely on diesel to generate electricity.

The Gulf railway line is designed to start from Kuwait City, passing through the city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia, to Bahrain through the bridge that is to be built next to the King Fahd Causeway, and then, from the city of Dammam to Qatar through the Salwa port.

The railway will also link Qatar with Bahrain through the Qatar-Bahrain Bridge that should be built soon between the two countries and from Saudi Arabia passing through the Batha port to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, and then reach the Sultanate of Oman through Sohar to Muscat.

Abdul Rahim Hassan Naqi, Secretary General of the Federation of the GCC Chambers of Commerce and Industry, explained that the railway project once operational, will provide more than 80,000 direct and indirect job opportunities by 2018.

The GCC has already begun to take some measures to facilitate the construction of the railway project, especially the lines that will be directly connected with the regional network.

Last Update: Thursday, 8 December 2016 KSA 12:51 - GMT 09:51

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/bu...-part-of-Gulf-railway-in-Saudi-completed.html

 

[somebozo]

I visited Saudi Arabia once (Mekka, Medina and Jidda). I know how big the country really is. It's better to fly from North to South than taking a train. Am I wrong?

Flying is point to point..train and road travel spurrs up economy along the route...beside flying is subsidized in Saudi..take away the subsidy and prices more than double..NAS Air which is not on subsidy pretty much charges 2 to 2.5 times of Saudia..

 

[Al-Andalus]

Flying is point to point..train and road travel spurrs up economy along the route...beside flying is subsidized in Saudi..take away the subsidy and prices more than double..NAS Air which is not on subsidy pretty much charges 2 to 2.5 times of Saudia..

If the public infrastructure (most roads, highways etc. excluded) improved and diversified more, the non-subsidied price when it comes to travel by plane, would fall.

Once a modern and extensive railway system is built, the number of metros built increases, the number of new airports, large international ones as well as more local ones, better/newer public buses (not that I ever see them being a big hit, maybe exclude this part) etc. the competition alone will ensure this.

 

[KediKesenFare3]

If the public infrastructure (most roads, highways etc. excluded) improved and diversified more, the non-subsidied price when it comes to travel by plane, would fall.

Once a modern and extensive railway system is built, the number of metros built increases, the number of new airports, large international ones as well as more local ones, better/newer public buses (not that I ever see them being a big hit, maybe exclude this part) etc. the competition alone will ensure this.

I kinda do not believe that Saudi Arabia's public infrastructure is underdeveloped. Okay, I was a little bit disappointed because the motorway between Medina and Mekka had some potholes and especially subsidence in the surface due to very high temperatures and extensive use, but all in all roads, streets and highways were really fine in Saudi Arabia.

Are you referring to the railway system with your criticism?

 

[Al-Andalus]

I kinda do not believe that Saudi Arabia's public infrastructure is underdeveloped. Okay, I was a little bit disappointed because the motorway between Medina and Mekka had some potholes and especially subsidence in the surface due to very high temperatures and extensive use, but all in all roads, streets and highways were really fine in Saudi Arabia.

Are you referring to the railway system with your criticism?

Roads/highways are of a good quality overall, some places even very good, considering the overall difficult landscape (mountains and deserts) as well as climatic challenges during the summer months (not that big of a problem overall - a rather minor one in fact) but the overall public transportation infrastructure outside of highways/roads, is in need of serious improvement/is lacking. Such as the railway system which "only" covers about 50% of KSA and which is in need of modernization (a work in progress as this thread shows) and metros in the major cities, something that is also lacking although the Riyadh metro is being built currently for instance.

I am neither overly impressed with public transportation such as busses although that method of transportation is not really popular to say the least.

Also I would like to see more roads being built for bicycles.

Another topic is the appalling road safety in KSA which is a national embarrassment and the main cause of premature deaths in KSA if I recall correctly and if I remember the latest numbers published.

@somebozo has lived in KSA longer than I have lived so far, so I am curious if he has other opinions and if so if his opinions are shaped by what he has seen in Pakistan.

I view this from a more "Western perspective" given that I do not live in KSA currently and have not for quite some time and also in earlier streches of my life.

Of course overall the public transportation sector in KSA is above average (compared to the average standard of the world) but it could improve by a lot and I do recognize the geographic difficulties and the size of KSA (12th largest country on the planet) so I do know that KSA cannot become a Qatar overnight in this regard if ever. But all those things should be fixed and should be given greater priority.

First and foremost combating that appalling road safety. Driving in KSA is more dangerous than committing adultery in Afghanistan/tribal areas of Pakistan. Almost. You get the point hopefully, lol. It's a scandal if you ask me. I might be overreacting here, probably I do, but things HAVE to improve and soon.

 

[Al-Andalus]

Saudi Arabia boasts a wide transport network with a particular strength in road and airport transportation. Road penetration, for example, is ~9,600km per 1,000 people, which is 70% higher than peer group (i.e. Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia). Quality of infrastructure is also solid, with Saudi Arabia ranking 17th in the WEF infrastructure quality score. Driven by economic and population growth as well as rapid urbanization, the Kingdom is now investing into a massive expansion of its urban transport systems (metros and buses) as well as inter-urban (freight and high speed railways). In parallel, the Kingdom pursues a strategic goal of increasing infrastructure quality by 300% by 2024.​

https://www.sagia.gov.sa/en/InvestorServices/KeySectors/Pages/SectorDetails.aspx?SectorID=1#

​

 

[Al-Andalus]

Haramain train only 10 km of tracks away from completion​

When it becomes fully operational, the train will transport 19,100 passengers an hour between Jeddah
and Makkah, 3,800 between Makkah and Madinah and 8,000 between Rabigh and Madinah.​

Dec 21, 2016

MAKKAH — Work on only 10 km of track has to be completed before the Haramain high-speed train will be ready for operation, according to the project’s supervisor Bassam Ghulam.

He said during a presentation at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday that work has to be completed on seven kilometers of track from the side of Al-Iskan neighborhood in Makkah and three in Jeddah’s Al-Harazat district.

During the first phase of its operation, which will continue for 12 years, the train is expected to transport about 1.2 billion passengers at the rate of 100 million every year, said Ghulam.

“At the outset of its operation, the train is expected to transport between 11,400-12,400 passengers an hour,” he said.

When it becomes fully operational, the train will transport 19,100 passengers an hour between Jeddah and Makkah, 3,800 between Makkah and Madinah and 8,000 between Rabigh and Madinah.

“The train will serve more than two million pilgrims every year,” he added.
“As many as 127 out of 138 bridges have been built and 845 crossings completed to drain rainwater,” said Ghulam.

The supervisor said the train will cover the distance between Jeddah and Makkah in less than 21 minutes, between Makkah and Rabigh in an hour and between Makkah and Madinah in two hours.

Due to safety measures, the maximum speed of the train per hour will not exceed 300 km.

Ghulam said the Jeddah part of the project was the most difficult because of the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway which is the most crowded.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...ay-completion/

It will be operational by the end of 2017.

New Saudi-Oman road to open beginning of 2017
​

Road has been called an “engineering marvel” as it was built through the moving sands of the vast Empty Quarter

December 18, 2016

Muscat: Saudis and Omanis are eagerly waiting for the opening of a 680kilometre-long road linking Oman with Saudi Arabia via the Empty Quarter. It’s expected to be a historic milestone linking two of the biggest countries of the GCC by land for the first time ever.

The Saudi Transport Ministry has affirmed that the road linking the two countries will be opened by the beginning of 2017, reported Al Hayat newspaper.

The new road will cut the distance to Saudi Arabia by more than 800 kilometres. Currently, the distance between Oman and Saudi Arabia via UAE is nearly 2,000 kilometres.​

http://m.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saud...017-1.1948087#

 

[Sargon of Akkad]

Emerging markets to see $642bn in railway investments in next 10 years; GCC dominates with $240bn in planned projects​

by isa | Feb 11, 2017 | BE2C2, Middle East | 0 comments

FEB 12, 2017 (BE2C2 Report) — Within the next 10 years, we will see a complete reform of mobility across emerging markets, as Asia and the Middle East have the largest selection of freight and urban transport projects in the world with more than $642bn worth of planned railway investments, according to a report.



The Terrapinn Middle East in collaboration with Ventures ONSITE, says in its report that the value of total GCC rail projects in pipeline stands at over $240bn, with $69bn worth of projects currently under construction.

In terms of overall expenditure on rail, Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain on top in the GCC. As of January 2017, the kingdom had registered the highest rail construction project value of 50%, followed by the UAE at 18% and Qatar at 17%.



Jamie Hosie, Event Director of Middle East Rail 2017, the biggest transport and logistics event in the region said,” Congested urban roads, increasing populations and the need for seamless trade corridors continue to drive immense investment in the railway sector – and with the effects of low oil prices subsiding, new projects, extensions, upgrades and improvements are back on track.”

““Within the next 10 years, we will see a complete reform of mobility across emerging markets,” Hosie told online Construction Week.



Key projects expected to be awarded to contractors in the Saudi market in 2017 are Zulfi – Al Majmaah Passenger Railway, North South Rail – Waad Al Shimal – Turaif – Al Jouf (ST320), Makkah Mass Rail Transit (MMRT) – Makkah Metro.

The planned investments of US$30bn in UAE’s railway networks include that in Abu Dhabi Metro and Light Rail, sky Tran Yas Island, the next stages of the Etihad Rail national network, the Dubai Metro extension for Expo 2020 and the new stages of the Al-Sufouh Tram.



Given the significance of rail-based connectivity spur in emerging economies (projected to lead the worldl economy by 2050), the 11th edition of Middle East Rail event has extended its project focus to new markets, including Central Asia and Indian Subcontinent, in addition to MENA region.



Expected to attract more than 350 construction and engineering companies, Middle East Rail from 7-8 March, 2017 will be in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and the Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime. It will also host 200 speakers during its annual conference.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/be2c2go

BE2C2 is a business unit of Irshad Salim Associates and publishes reports and news analysis based on available data and related information from sources readily available on the web and in the public domain.

http://www.be2c2.com/2017/02/11/httpwp-mep72mn4-dl/

 

[BATMAN]

All of Asia is far behind Saudi Arabia in development and its quality.
I like to know, why does cursing tribe of Pakistan fail to comment.
What happened to the Bedouin bla bla ? Should we still believe... anything you propagate?

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1059911/saudi-arabia