SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Railway Worth $2.6bn To Begin Ferrying Passengers December

Saudi Arabia will start operations on the country's longest railway, running 2,750-km between capital Riyadh and the northern city of Gurayat, on December 24. It is being built at a cost of SR10 billion ($2.66 billion), said a report.

Majority of the work has been completed including the construction of the support buildings along the length and breadth of the railway besides the main control and operation centre, 179 communication towers and signals, control systems, communication systems at stations and maintenance buildings.

One of the world’s longest railway lines, it will pass through Majmaa, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf regions of the kingdom.

There are six railway stations, each spread over 137,217 sq m area, with three floors: One for arrivals and another for departures while the third is for baggage collection, stated the report, citing a senior Saudi Railway Company (SAR) official.

There are zones for shops and restaurants, tourism service offices and rent-a-car service.

Parking facilities at each station can accommodate 500 vehicles, he added.

According to him, two trains will be operating during the daytime and overnight.

The train that operates in the day will have a length of 280 m. It comprises two engines and nine coaches including three for business class passengers and four for economy class passengers.

One coach each has been allocated for restaurant and baggage.

The train can carry 444 passengers and will run at a speed of 200 km/hour.

The 383-m-long night train will have 13 coaches including three for economy class, one for business class, three sleeping coaches, four coaches to transport cars, one coach each for fast food and baggage.

It will accommodate 377 passengers and run at a speed of 160 km/hour.

With the launch of this railway line, the dreams of people living in the kingdom’s northern regions will come true as the travel distance between Gurayat and Riyadh has now got shortened from 13 to eight hours.



Tourism Observer

EGYPT: Nile Air Announce 3rd Weekly Service To Al-Jouf

Due to strong demand on Nile Air’s newest route to Saudi Arabia and upon request our customers, the airline is pleased to announce a new third weekly flight on the Cairo – Al-Jouf route from September 2015.

The new flight will operate every Wednesday and offers customers greater choice and flexibility in their travel.

Nile Air is also the only airline to offer a true business class service non-stop between both cities.

Cairo - Al-Jouf: increases from 2 to 3 flights per week

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Gulf Airlines And Al-Maha Airways Take-off Delayed

New domestic airlines — Al-Maha Airways and Saudi Gulf Airlines — have been further delayed due to technical reasons as the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) asked them to complete safety procedures in order to start operation next year.

“The two private airlines were supposed to begin their services this month but their flights were delayed because of technical reasons,” said Abdul Hakeem Al-Badr, assistant president for safety and transport.

He urged the two airlines to complete safety measures to receive the license.

“The two airlines have bought a fleet of aircraft required for operation in the Kingdom,” he said, adding that the first plane for Saudi Gulf Airlines would arrive by the end of this month.

“We expect the two operators to complete final procedures to get the necessary license, including safety measures,” Al-Badr told Al-Watan Arabic daily.

“The operation of the new airlines will not affect activities of the Kingdom’s hub airports,” he added.

Al-Badr disclosed plans to transform Hail Regional Airport into an international airport. “The expansion of its terminals has been completed. Hail has been selected to become a hub airport considering its strategic position. The project will be launched in the first quarter of 2016,” Al-Badr said.

He said Hail airport would give quick connections to Al-Jouf, Arar, Gurayat, Qaisuma, Turaif and Rafha, adding that it would receive 33 flights daily.

“We also intend to convert Abha into a hub airport considering the intensity of flights,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hail Governor Prince Abdul Mohsen opened an aviation conference in the city in the presence of Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, president of GACA on Tuesday. An exhibition is being held on the sidelines of the conference with the participation of 40 exhibitors.

Al-Hamdan said the hub airport system launched by GACA would serve domestic passengers to reach their destinations easily and improve aviation services.