Haramain Railway Station in Jeddah nears completion

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Monday 07 Dec 2015 - 19:11 Makkah mean time-25-2-1437 (Image from Okaz newspaper) Jeddah, (IINA) - Saudi Railways Organization’s CEO Mohammad Al-Suwaikit said that the arrival and departure lounges at the Jeddah station for the Haramain High-Speed Rail have been completed, Saudi Gazette reported. “The second phase of the project will be complete by the end of 2016. We have so far built the arrival and departure lounges and the shopping area which has famous international brands”, said Al-Suwaikit. “The station will have around 70 escalators, each 23 meters long. The escalators will be the longest in the Middle East. The station will also be fully equipped with all required services. The Civil Defense will have an office at the station, and there will be a parking lot with a capacity for 6,000 vehicles”, said Al-Suwaikit. He noted that there is a VIP lounge for first class passengers and that the station will also have parking spots for buses and taxis.  “The municipality is also working on constructing a promenade for pedestrians. The total area of the station is 461,000 sq. meters. The station is also fully equipped with surveillance cameras and plasma screens”. “We have also allocated a budget for the design and aesthetic appeal of the station. The station will have chandeliers reflecting the theme of the station and matching the design of the trains, offices and stores”, he added. He also said the site was designed to be as eco-friendly as possible by using eco-friendly materials. The station will have a glass ceiling to allow the sunlight to illuminate it during the day. It is noteworthy that there are five stations planned for the Haramain train, Al-Madinah at the north end of the line, King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Jeddah city center, and Makkah in the south. AG/IINA