Ever since the grand inception of the Haramain High-Speed Railway, it has been a profound dream of mine to personally experience this marvel of modern engineering—a true "bullet train" gliding seamlessly across the arid expanses of the Arabian desert. I was eager to document this monumental leap in infrastructure for my ongoing, in-depth series on international transit logistics and mobility.
While an extended, multi-day trip to the Prophet's city of Madinah unfortunately wasn't possible due to our demanding work schedules, my good friend and colleague Nawaz and I decided that a shorter, highly focused trip to the holy city of Makkah would be the absolute perfect alternative. It provided us with an excellent, time-efficient opportunity to thoroughly analyze the route, understand the scheduling itineraries, and evaluate the varying seat classes firsthand.
🗺️ Ishabil Trip At A Glance
- 📍 Destination: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- 📅 Date of Journey: September 12, 2018
- 🚆 Transport Mode: Haramain High-Speed Train
- 👥 Companions: Friend Nawaz
We realized just in the nick of time that the highly celebrated inaugural 50% discount offer, which had drawn massive crowds since the railway's opening, was rapidly approaching its final days. Not wanting to miss out on such an incredible bargain, we jumped online and booked our tickets immediately through the streamlined digital portal. We deliberately chose to travel in Business Class. This was a crucial detail necessary for enriching my high-speed rail network guides with premium insights, and frankly, it was a complete and absolute steal at just 26 Riyals (compared to the standard 21 Riyals for Economy class). With our digital boarding passes secured, we eagerly anticipated our scheduled 10:22 AM morning departure from the bustling coastal city of Jeddah.
Haramain High Speed Train Jeddah Sulaimaniya Station.The Gateway: Jeddah Sulaymaniyah Station
The Haramain Railway is not just a train line; it is a sprawling, 450-kilometer long high-tech transportation corridor specifically designed to connect the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with the vibrant commercial hub of Jeddah and the King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, utilizing some of the most advanced, state-of-the-art rail technology available in the world today.
We arrived at the magnificent Sulaymaniyah Station in central Jeddah via a local taxi on a bright, sunny morning. The sheer architectural scale, the gleaming geometric facades, and the breathtaking modernity of the station infrastructure were absolutely staggering to behold. From the very moment we stepped out of our taxi and into the cool, climate-controlled concourse, the level of customer service was flawlessly seamless.
After a remarkably quick and efficient ticket verification check at the main gates, we were ushered to the expansive upper departure levels via high-speed glass lifts. The rigorous security protocols and advanced luggage screening procedures heavily mirrored the stringent, high-level operations you would expect to find at a top-tier international airport, ensuring utmost safety. The primary waiting lounge was incredibly vast, bathed in natural light, and uniquely featured a pristine Al-Baik express outlet (serving highly popular local snacks and refreshing drinks). The entire floor was meticulously managed by an incredibly polite, welcoming, and highly professional team of young Saudi men and women, reflecting the Kingdom's evolving workforce.
Life at 200 km/h
With clockwork precision, exactly at 10:22 AM, the sleek, aerodynamic silver nose of the high-speed train glided silently and gracefully into the station platform. Crossing the threshold and stepping inside the carriage truly felt akin to boarding a wide-body luxury commercial aircraft rather than a traditional train. Our designated Business Class cabin was a haven of modern comfort and featured a meticulously designed interior:
- Spacious Seating: Ergonomic chairs with ample legroom.
- Large Viewports: Massive glass windows to observe the landscape.
- Infotainment: Personal monitors for videos and information.
- Digital Displays: Large screens showing the route and current speed.
As the electric engines engaged and we rapidly accelerated out of the dense urban sprawl of Jeddah, the concrete cityscape quickly gave way to the sweeping, rugged, and untouched beauty of the ancient Arabian desert and its imposing, rocky mountain ranges. Thanks to a series of unexpectedly heavy recent rains, a delicate, vibrant thin veil of green vegetation covered the normally arid hills—a phenomenally rare, breathtakingly beautiful sight that completely transformed the horizon.
We sat captivated, peering through the pristine glass as we watched wandering herds of resilient goats and majestic camels peacefully grazing on the newly sprouted desert grass, all viewed from the fantastic vantage point of our elevated, securely fenced railway tracks. During our specific leg of the journey, the train effortlessly maintained a remarkably smooth, whisper-quiet cruising speed of 200 km/h. The advanced suspension systems completely absorbed any track vibrations, making the immensely fast journey feel entirely effortless, tranquil, and profoundly comfortable.
Arrival in the Holy City
As our high-speed marvel gradually approached the sacred boundaries of Makkah, the automated systems gently began to decelerate the train well in advance, ensuring a perfectly smooth approach without any sudden braking. We smoothly pulled into the grand platforms of the Makkah Haramain station at exactly 11:00 AM, right on schedule to the very minute. While the Makkah railway station is undeniably massive and ingeniously spread across a single, endlessly expansive ground level to accommodate the incredible influx of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, it possessed a very distinct, culturally resonant architectural feel that sharply contrasted with the towering, highly vertical, multi-level structural design of the Jeddah hub we had just departed.
One particularly interesting engineering observation that caught my technical eye: the entire train set is uniquely bi-directional. It is equipped with fully functional locomotive "engines" and driver cabins at both the front and rear ends of the consist. This brilliant design choice allows the train to seamlessly reverse its operational course for the return journey without ever needing to undergo the time-consuming process of turning around on a complex railway wye or turntable.
The Final Leg to the Haram
Upon exiting the awe-inspiring main hall of the station, we were immediately greeted by an array of highly organized, clearly signposted ticketing counters dedicated specifically to local city taxis and the highly efficient Haram Shuttle Bus network. Emphasizing the affordability of the integrated transit system, we purchased a dedicated shuttle ticket for a mere 3 Riyals each and promptly boarded one of the many brand-new, air-conditioned luxury buses that were systematically idling in the designated bays waiting outside.
Navigating through the city's dedicated bus lanes, the shuttle seamlessly bypassed heavy local traffic and dropped us off safely just a short, convenient walking distance from the breathtaking gates of the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). After humbly performing our Tawaf around the Holy Kaaba and peacefully offering the obligatory Dhuhr afternoon congregational prayers amidst the global gathering of worshippers, we hailed a standard local taxi for the direct highway trip back to Jeddah. We successfully reached the familiar comfort of our home by 2:00 PM that same afternoon. What historically used to be a long, physically exhausting, and incredibly time-consuming desert commute has now been completely revolutionized into a swift, deeply relaxing, and genuinely world-class transit experience that I cannot recommend highly enough.
📌 Ishabil Tips: Train Trip Breakdown
| Route | Jeddah (Sulaymaniyah) to Makkah |
|---|---|
| Duration | ~43 minutes |
| Top Speed | Up to 300 km/h (Reached 200 km/h on this leg) |
| Cost | 26 SAR (Business Class - Promo Rate) |
Pro Tip: Book through the HHR Train app or website to catch promotional fares and ensure seat availability.
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