SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Railways Organization President Mohamed Khaled al Suwaiket visited the first trainset for the Haramain High Speed Rail project at the Talgo’s factory at Rivabellosa in Spain on August 11.
The 450 km high speed line will link Makkah with Madinah, via Jeddah and King Abdul Aziz International Airport. Trial running between Rabigh and Madinah is planned for next year, with opening now planned for mid-2016.
Talgo is supplying 36 Talgo 350 trainsets suitable for 320 km/h operation; 35 for passenger service plus a royal train. The 13-car trainsets are based on the AVE 102 and 112 supplied to Spanish national operator RENFE. Bombardier has subcontracts worth €281m to provide Mitrac 3000 traction and control packages and Flexx Power 350 power car bogies.
- The SRO President also visited the Madrid facility where Indra is developing, ticketing, security, communications and control systems for the Haramain High Speed Rail project.
