Mecca Metro Given Go-Ahead

Mecca Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has given the go-ahead to build two metro lines in the city as part of the SR62 billion transport infrastructure project.

The first, 11km line will run from the Grand Mosque, past King Abdul Aziz Road and Haramain Railway’s main station in Rusaifa and onto the Mecca to Jeddah Expressway. Meanwhile the second, 33km line will run from Medina Road, north of the Taneem Mosque, southward to the western side of the Grand Mosque King Abdulaziz Towers and Azizia Street before ending at Umm Al-Qura University. This will have 15 stations.

The first, SR25.5 billion, phase will take three years to build. Much of it will be in underground tunnels. It will be integrated with bus transport, which is also being improved through the Holy City.

Three contracts will be awarded initially, for civil engineering work, control and signalling systems, and buying in metro trains. Contracts will be signed in the first quarter of 2014.

Once fully operational, the metro network will have 88 stations and 114km of track. This will significantly reduce congestion, which is significant during the two annual pilgrimages. The whole project is expected to take 10 years to completion.