The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has granted an operating and safety license to the Mashair Train, which transports Haj pilgrims between Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina. Abdul Aziz Al-Huqail, General President of the SRO, said his organization was empowered by a Royal Decree to award the license. The SRO's goals include regulating railway transport, supervising operational safety, licensing providers of railway services, setting technical standards and monitoring performance of duties. Al-Huqail explained that SRO experts had assessed the service with the Chinese Railway Construction Corporation Limited, the operating company, before issuing the final safety certificate and the verification license. The licensing agreement was signed at the SRO's headquarters in Dammam after a report was submitted by Dr. Jubarah Al-Suraisiry, Minister of Transport and the SRO Chairman. The report had recommended that the license be granted. This is the second license of its kind awarded in the Kingdom. Recently the SRO granted a safety and operational license to the train services in Princess Noura University in Riyadh. The Mashair Train, which will operate at full capacity during this year's Haj season, will transport 72,000 pilgrims per hour, the world's highest train capacity. Fahd Abu Tarboush, director general of the chain of development projects in the holy sites executed during the era of King Abdullah, recently said that workers are putting finishing touches on the train project. Ongoing work includes building sidewalks, asphalting and completing additional services in the train stations, he added.
