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 length18.1 km (11.2 mi) (operational)
188 km (117 mi) (projected)[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 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.

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.[8] The announcement gave an estimated time period to completion of 10 years. Invitations for tenders were due to be issued in January 2013.[9]

Four new lines are to be built.[10]

  • 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.[11]

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,[12] 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.[11]

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. ^ "Saudi Cabinet Approves $16.5 Billion Mecca Metro System". Bloomberg News. 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  9. ^ "Makkah Metro tender to be issued in January". Saudi Gazette. 2012-10-25. Archived from the original on 2014-04-07.
  10. ^ "Makkah metro expansion plan". Railway Gazette International. 2011-08-11.
  11. ^ a b Yasir Iqbal (2024-06-10). "Saudi Arabia restarts Mecca metro project". MEED. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  12. ^ 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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