RIYADH – Saudi Arabia is all set to launch the “Haramain Express” — a newtrain service that will carry nearly 60 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrimsamong other passengers a year — in 2018.

The project worth $16 billion and will launched later this year, saidMinister of Transportation and Chairman of the Saudi Railway Organisation,Nabil Al Amoudi.

He said the new train service will be ready to serve the public this yearafter the relevant authorities would conduct the last check for safety andoperational readiness, according to *Gulf Newslink>*.link>

The report did not mention a specific date of launch.

Electric impulsion will drive the trains to an effective speed of 300 kphthat is more than Japan’s “bullet train” functioning with speed of 320kph.

The train is likely to shorten travel time to two hours between Makkah andMadinah instead of six hours by bus.

The network has also been organising regular trips in which officials ofgovernmental, non-governmental and charitable bodies have participated.

The latest test was conducted on Friday, carrying senior officials on boardfrom Madinah.

The Haramain high-speed rail project, known as the “Western railway”, is a453-kilometre long (281 mi) high-speed inter-city rail transport system inSaudi Arabia.

It links Madinah and Makkah via King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), alsoJeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA).

Madinah Governor Prince Faisal Bin Salman voiced appreciation to KingSalman for his support of public transport (high-speed train) in theKingdom.

The motive is to serve pilgrims of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and thevisitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.