JEDDAH: The finishing touches are being made to the train that will transport pilgrims between the holy sites this Haj. On a visit to Makkah this week, it appeared the Chinese company responsible for the project, had its workers out preparing the train and its stations for the hundreds of thousands expected to use the facility. The train is expected to cut traffic on the road by 30,000 cars. It will carry 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 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. The length of each station is about 300 meters and 36 meters wide and has a capacity for 3,000 pilgrims. Pilgrims can use five doors to get into the station. The 20 trains each have a capacity for 3,000 people. There are also seats for the elderly. The train is expected to move between 80 kilometers and 120 kilometers an hour.
