Saudi, Spain ink $8.22 bn deal for pilgrim railway
By Amer Hilabi | AFP – 14/01/12
Saudi Arabia has inked an $8.22 billion (6.48 bn euros) deal with a Spanish consortium to build a high-speed railway on the Muslim pilgrim route between Mecca and Medina, the state news agency SPA reported Saturday.
Spanish companies beat out French rivals in October for the contract to build the oil-rich kingdom's Haramain High Speed Rail Project (HHR).
The project aims to provide transportation for Muslim pilgrims between the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina through the Red Sea-port city of Jeddah, a distance of 450 kilometres (280 miles).
The signing ceremony was attended by Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, Transport Minister Jebarah al-Suraisri, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and Development Minister Ana Pastor.
Some 2.5 million Muslims from around the world join the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The two holy cities also attract Muslim pilgrims year round, and, along with Jeddah, are the main hubs of the kingdom's western region.
Trains on the high-speed lines will travel at 320 kilometres per hour (200 miles per hour), taking passengers from Mecca to Medina in two and a half hours and carrying an estimated 166,000 passengers a day.
The project includes building the rail line, supplying 35 high-speed trains and a 12-year maintenance contract, with the possible future purchase of an additional 23 trains, the Spanish and Saudi authorities said.
The Spanish companies involved include the state rail network Adif, train manufacturer Talgo, technology company Indra and rail builders OHL.
Spain has become a world leader in high-speed rail networks and now has the longest such system in Europe, ahead of France which pioneered the technology.
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Saudi, Spain ink $8.22 bn deal for pilgrim railway
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Re: Saudi, Spain ink $8.22 bn deal for pilgrim railway
Talgo to build high speed trains for new Saudi Arabia rail line
17 Jan 2012 â‹… by A. Samuel â‹… Rail.co
A Spanish consortium, led by Talgo and Renfe has signed a contract for a high speed rail line connecting Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
The contract is valued at €6.9 billion.
The contract involves the construction, operation and 12 year maintenance of the Haramain High Speed Rail line.
On the 450 km line, trains will operate at speeds of over 300 km/h and will provide services to more than 160,000 passengers per day, linking the two Holy Cities in two hours.
Talgo will be responsible for the construction of 35 ‘Talgo 350′ trainsets and 12 years of maintenance services, with a future purchase option of 20 additional trains.
The Talgo 350 is the ‘best-in-class high speed train in terms of energy consumption, accessibility, comfort and safety and fully adapted to the severe climatic conditions of Saudi Arabia,’ the rolling stock manufacturer said.
The trains will be specially adapted to the desert conditions.
17 Jan 2012 â‹… by A. Samuel â‹… Rail.co
A Spanish consortium, led by Talgo and Renfe has signed a contract for a high speed rail line connecting Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
The contract is valued at €6.9 billion.
The contract involves the construction, operation and 12 year maintenance of the Haramain High Speed Rail line.
On the 450 km line, trains will operate at speeds of over 300 km/h and will provide services to more than 160,000 passengers per day, linking the two Holy Cities in two hours.
Talgo will be responsible for the construction of 35 ‘Talgo 350′ trainsets and 12 years of maintenance services, with a future purchase option of 20 additional trains.
The Talgo 350 is the ‘best-in-class high speed train in terms of energy consumption, accessibility, comfort and safety and fully adapted to the severe climatic conditions of Saudi Arabia,’ the rolling stock manufacturer said.
The trains will be specially adapted to the desert conditions.
