The Saudi Railways Organisation has awarded a €6.74bn ($9.4bn) contract Saudi-Spanish Al-Shoula consortium for the construction of second phase of high-speed Haramain railway project. The high-speed Haramain Railway will link holy cities Mecca and Medina to the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah, and to King Abdullah Economic City which is currently under construction.
The project involves the construction of railway tracks, installation of signaling and telecommunication systems, electrification, operational control centre, the procurement of 35 trains, and the operation and maintenance for a period of 12 years.
The contract covers the construction of 450 kilometres of high-speed track and will transport about 160,000 passengers a day.The consortium comprise of twelve Spanish companies and two companies Saudis, led by ADIF and RENFE.The contract also includes operation and maintenace of the line for 12 years.