Rail network: Riyadh gives warning to avoid delay

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has given a “final warning” to avoid delays on an $8.2 billion high-speed rail project which Spanish and Saudi firms are helping to build. The Haramain High Speed Rail system is to transport Muslim pilgrims and regular travellers, 450 km between the holy cities of Makkah and Madina via the Red Sea port of Jeddah. The Saudi Bin Laden Consortium and Saudi Oger Joint Venture received contracts for four stations, while Al-Rajhi Alliance in 2009 won the bid to construct bridges, culverts and similar work. During an inspection tour last week, kingdom’s new Transport Minister Abdullah bin Abdulrahman al-Muqbel warned that time was running out. Muqbel also met with the Spanish consortium “and discussed with them the delays in some of the sites. Saudi Arabia is expanding its railways, including a $22.5 billion metro system under construction in Riyadh. APP/AFP

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th,  2014.

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