Saudi arabia: Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) announced an increase in the operational capacity of the Haramain High-Speed Railway for Hajj 1447 AH to more than 2.21 million seats, reflecting efforts to meet growing demand for transport between Makkah and Madinah.

According to Saudi Press Agency, this marks an increase of more than 210,000 seats compared to the previous season, with 5,308 trips planned - up approximately 11%. Pilgrim transport via the railway will commence on Tuesday, May 5, from King Abdulaziz International Airport station to Makkah station, marking the start of Hajj operations for 1447 AH.

The railway fleet includes 35 trains operating at speeds of up to 300 km/h across a 453-kilometer track. The journey between Makkah and Madinah takes approximately two hours, with five main stations linking the two holy cities and Jeddah.

This initiative supports the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to enhance pilgrim services and improve the overall Hajj experience.