AL-MASHAIR TRAIN BEING READIED FOR PILGRIMS

From Zainal Abdul Jalil

MECCA, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The finishing touches to the Al-Mashair train are
being made to transport pilgrims between the holy sites this Haj.

The Saudi Gazette, a local newspaper, reported that a visit made this week saw
workers of the Chinese company responsible for the project preparing the train
and its stations.

The report from Jeddah on Wednesday, however, did not mention who made the visit.

It said the train was expected to cut traffic on the road by 30,000 cars. It
will carry hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from nine different stations
through Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifa.

The railway network has a dual track and can carry 70,000 pilgrims per hour in
20 trains. Each train has a capacity for 3,000 people. There are also seats for
the elderly.

Each station is separated into two terminals and has 16 elevators with a
capacity for 50 persons. It also has six pedestrian walkways to help prevent
congestion, according to the Saudi Gazette.

Each station is 300 metres long and 36 metres wide and has a capacity for 3,000
pilgrims, who can use five doors to get into the station.

The train is expected to travel at 80km to 120km per hour.
-- BERNAMA