Kingdom resumes ticket sales for Makkah and Madinah high speed train

Saudi Arabia's high speed Haramain Express has resumed ticket sales. (Supplied)

• Test runs ahead of resumption of service
• Government helps Hajj and Umrah businesses

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has resumed ticket sales for its high speed rail link between Makkah and Madinah, a key transport artery for pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah.
The Haramain high-speed train will resume operations from March 31, 2021, Saudi Press Agency reported. It will service Makkah, Madinah, King Abdulaziz Airport Jeddah, and King Abdullah Economic City Station.
Transport chiefs have been operating test runs ahead of its full return to service.
The train network was hit by a huge fire at Jeddah’s Al-Sulaimaniyah station in September 2019.
The decision to reopen the railway was made only after the safety of passengers had been assured, said Rayan Al-Harbi, the deputy director of Haramain High Speed Railway and Holy Places.
Earlier this month the Saudi government approved a series of new initiatives to help businesses involved in the annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages recover from the financial impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.