The Haramain high-speed railway will replace most buses transporting pilgrims between Makkah and Madinah by December 2016.

There would be 35 trains operational next year to serve more than 2 million pilgrims, a local Haramain official was quoted as saying recently by a local publication. Each train would have 15 carriages and three first class carriages, he said.

Work has now been completed on the train stations in Madinah and Rabigh’s King Abdullah Economic City. The stations in Makkah and Jeddah are almost complete, according to the official.

Testing has begun on the lines between Madinah and Rabigh. The work on signals, electricity infrastructure and other systems are also well advanced.

“The Haramain trains will travel at a speed of more than 300 km/h. A trip between Jeddah and Makkah will take only half an hour, while one between Jeddah and Madinah will take about 2 hours,” said the official.