Saudi Arabia’s Haramain train to return to service in 30 days after Jeddah fire

Saudi Civil Defense firefighters put out a fire that broke out at the Haramain high-speed train station in Jeddah. (AFP)
  • The service was halted on Sunday after a fire broke out at the station in Jeddah
  • The transport minister praised the various sectors that worked together to contain the blaze

RIYADH: The Haramain high-speed train network, which was hit by a huge fire, will resume operations within 30 days, Saudi Arabia's transport minister said Tuesday.
The service was halted on Sunday after a fire broke out at the station in Jeddah, injuring at least five people.
“Despite the damage caused by the fire, the Haramain train will resume its services within 30 days using the new King Abdulaziz Airport Terminal, as well as as well as stations in Makkah, King Abdullah Economic City and Medina, to serve Jeddah’s residents and visitors,” Nabeel Al-Amoudi, Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Railways Company (SAAR).
The minister praised the various sectors that worked together to contain the blaze in Jeddah's Sulaimaniyah district.
Al-Amoudi thanked the Saudi Civil Defense, the General Security Aviation Command, the Red Crescent, support teams from Saudi Aramco, the Air Force and Civil Aviation.
The minister toured the site of the blaze on Monday to assess the extent of the damage.
Passengers and workers were evacuated from the station as soon as the fire alarm systems went off at 12:05 p.m. on Sunday. 
The blaze, which was centered in the roof of the station, lasted for 15 hours.