Mecca Metro

Mecca Metro
Overview
Native nameقطارات مكة للنقل العام
LocaleMecca
Transit typeRapid Transit
Number of lines1 – Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro line (shuttle train for Hajj pilgrims)
3 (projected)[1][2]
Number of stationsLine  S  – 9
Line  A   B   C   D  – 81 (projected)[2]
Operation
Began operationNovember 13, 2010
Technical
System length188 km (117 mi) (projected)[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Mecca Metro or Makkah Metro is a metro system with four planned lines in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Metro was constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation[3] and is run by Mecca Mass Rail Transit Company (MMRTC). The metro forms part of the 62-billion-riyal Mecca Public Transport Programme (MPTP), which will include integrated bus services.[1][4][5]

The four proposed metro lines[5] will be in addition to the existing Al Mashaer Al Mugaddassah Metro line: 18.1 km, connecting Mecca, Arafat, Muzdalifa, and Mina opened in November 2010.[6][7]

Many people utilize the Mecca Metro during the Hajj. The price for the metro is 250 riyals, with prices lowering to 100 riyals if traveling on the last day of Hajj.[8]

Planning

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In August 2012, it was announced that the Saudi government had approved a US$16.5 billion budget to build four metro lines (182 kilometers (113 mi)) of the system.[9] The announcement gave an estimated time period to completion of 10 years. Invitations for tenders were due to be issued in January 2013.[10]

Four new lines are to be built.[11]

  • Line  A  : will connect Mecca to large multilevel parking facilities from the south to the northeast.
  • Line  B  : is a straight link between Mina and Mecca and continues parallel to the HHSR into the southwest.
  • Line  C  : will connect Arafat and Mina to the west side of Mecca and continues to the northwest.
  • Line  D  : will connect the south to Mecca with a straight extension to the west.[12]

Work on the 188-kilometer (117 mi) long metro network with 87 new stations had been expected to commence construction in 2015,[1] then in 2016,[2] but had not started ever since. After a failed tender in 2017,[13] the Saudi government restarted the project in summer 2024 by ordering a feasibility study on phase 1 of the project. This phase with a US$8 billion budget covers planned line B and most parts of line C, while line A will be in the second phase, and line D plus a northern extension of line C will be part of phase 3.[12]

MMRTC has appointed Prasarana Malaysia to provide consultancy services during Phase 1, which covers the construction of two metro lines; totaling 45.1 km and 22 stations by 2019.[4][needs update]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Project, Macca Saudi Arabia". raillynews.com. 2013-10-25. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  2. ^ a b c d "Makkah to have four metro lines, 88 stations - Phase one of 188-km metro network to begin work in 2016". Gulf News. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  3. ^ "As China Woos Overseas Business, State-Owned Firms Take a Hit". Time. 2010-11-28. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  4. ^ a b "Prasarana wins Makkah metro consultancy contract". Railway Gazette International. 2014-11-28.
  5. ^ a b "Jeddah and Makkah metro plans approved". Railway Gazette International. 2012-08-17.
  6. ^ "Hajj pilgrims take the metro to Makkah". Railway Gazette International. 2010-11-15.
  7. ^ "Mecca Metro" (PDF). SYSTRA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2015-09-28.
  8. ^ "Mecca Metro - Information, Route Map, Fare & Timings". The Metro Rail Guy. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  9. ^ "Saudi Cabinet Approves $16.5 Billion Mecca Metro System". Bloomberg News. 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  10. ^ "Makkah Metro tender to be issued in January". Saudi Gazette. 2012-10-25. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07.
  11. ^ "Makkah metro expansion plan". Railway Gazette International. 2011-08-11.
  12. ^ a b Yasir Iqbal (2024-06-10). "Saudi Arabia restarts Mecca metro project". MEED. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  13. ^ Abdel-Razzaq, Jumana (28 June 2017). "Official: Tender for Makkah Metro may be awarded in 2018". www.constructionweekonline.com. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
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