Saudi’s Mashaaer metro line ready to transport over 2 million pilgrims

Image credit: Saudi Press Agency

Al-Mashaaer Metro Line at Saudi Arabia’s holy sites is one of the most notable projects implemented by Saudi Arabia during the past 15 years to serve pilgrims.

Launched in November 2010, the high-speed electric train was specifically designed to cater to the needs of pilgrims during the annual Hajj season, facilitating transportation between the holy sites of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, reported Saudi Press Agency.

Spanning a distance of 18 kilometres, the railway encompasses nine stations, with three stations each in Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina, with the final station situated near the Jamarat Bridge.

Operating at a speed of 80 km per hour, the train completes the journey between Mina and Arafat in approximately 20 minutes.

With a total of 17 trains dedicated to serving the holy sites, each capable of accommodating 3,000 passengers, the overall seating capacity amounts to 20 per cent of the total number of passengers, allowing for a maximum capacity of 72,000 passengers per hour.

Mashaaer Metro Line Ready to Transport Over 2 Million Pilgrimshttps://t.co/zzWwfKL8ej#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/mlqwT1hAPF

— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) June 14, 2023

During the Hajj season, the train successfully transported 2.3 million passengers across 2,170 trips.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, the railway temporarily ceased its operations but resumed services in 2022, transporting 1.35 million passengers across 2,228 trips.

Read: Saudi starts Mashaaer metro line for pilgrims in Makkah as Hajj begins