In a key initiative, Indian pilgrims arriving at Jeddah Airport will now have the opportunity to travel to Makkah via the Haramain High-Speed Train, enhancing the overall pilgrimage experience.
Traditionally, all pilgrims traveling from Jeddah to Makkah have used buses provided by Saudi authorities.
However, this year, special arrangements have been made by the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, in collaboration with Saudi authorities, to transport approximately 32,000 Indian pilgrims using the high-speed rail service.
This new initiative promises a more comfortable journey for the pilgrims and significantly reduces the travel time between Jeddah and Makkah.
The Haramain High-Speed Train can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h, halving the travel time compared to the bus service.
On May 26, the inaugural journey of this new service was marked by the presence of key officials. Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam escorted the first group of Indian pilgrims on the train from Jeddah Airport to Makkah.
"This is not only a first for Indian pilgrims but also an inaugural experience for Saudi authorities in transporting pilgrims by train directly from Jeddah Airport to Makkah," Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan said.
The introduction of the high-speed train service is seen as a significant step towards improving the logistics of the Hajj pilgrimage and showcases the collaborative efforts between Indian and Saudi authorities.
They were accompanied by Eng. Al Harbi, Vice President of Saudi Arabian Railways, and other officials from the Ministry of Hajj and the Ministry of Transport. The group of pilgrims had arrived in Jeddah on a Saudia Air flight from Mumbai.
The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been working closely with Saudi authorities to ensure the smooth implementation of this new facility.
This year, a total of 175,000 pilgrims from India will perform the Hajj pilgrimage, with 140,000 of them facilitated by the Hajj Committee of India.
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