Mecca Metro Explained

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Mecca Metro
Native Name:	Arabic: قطارات مكة للنقل العام
Locale:	Mecca
Transit Type:	Rapid Transit
Lines:	1 – Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro line (shuttle train for Hajj pilgrims) 3 (projected)
Stations:	Line – 9 Line – 81 (projected)
Began Operation:	November 13, 2010
System Length:	188km (117miles) (projected)

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^[1] 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.^{[2] [3]}

The four new metro lines 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.^{[4] [5]}

Many people utilize the Mecca Metro during the Hajj. The price for the metro is 250riyals, with prices lowering to 100 riyals if traveling on the last day of Hajj.^[6]

Planning

In August 2012, it was announced that the Saudi government had approved a US$16.5 billion budget to build four metro lines (182km (113miles)) of the system.^[7] The announcement gave an estimated time period to completion of 10 years. Invitations for tenders were due to be issued in January 2013.^[8]

Four new lines are to be built.^[9]

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

Work on the 188adj=onNaNadj=on long metro network with 87 new stations had been expected to commence construction in 2015^[10], then in 2016^[11], 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.^[13]

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.

See also

• Jeddah Metro
• Madinah Metro
• Riyadh Metro
• Haramain High Speed Railway
• Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro line

External links

• Makkah at UrbanRail.net

Notes and References

1. As China Woos Overseas Business, State-Owned Firms Take a Hit. 2017-06-11. Time. 2010-11-28.
2. Prasarana wins Makkah metro consultancy contract . . 2014-11-28.
3. Jeddah and Makkah metro plans approved . Railway Gazette International . 2012-08-17.
4. Hajj pilgrims take the metro to Makkah . Railway Gazette International . 2010-11-15.
5. News: Mecca Metro . . 2015-09-28 . 2016-03-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160315035412/https://www.systra.com/IMG/pdf/fiche_metro_la_mecque_angl.pdf . dead.
6. Web site: Mecca Metro - Information, Route Map, Fare & Timings. 2021-09-02. The Metro Rail Guy. en-US.
7. News: Saudi Cabinet Approves $16.5 Billion Mecca Metro System . . 2012-08-14 . 2014-06-07.
8. News: Makkah Metro tender to be issued in January . . 2012-10-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081119/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20121025140747 . 2014-04-07 .
9. Makkah metro expansion plan . Railway Gazette International . 2011-08-11.
10. Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Project, Macca Saudi Arabia . raillynews.com . 2013-10-25 . 2015-06-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150714230450/http://www.raillynews.com/2013/al-mashaaer-al-mugaddassah-metro-project-macca-saudi-arabia-video/ . 2015-07-14 . dead .
11. News: Makkah to have four metro lines, 88 stations - Phase one of 188-km metro network to begin work in 2016 . . 2014-04-29 . 2014-06-07.
12. Web site: [www.constructionweekonline.com/article-45132-official-tender-for-makkah-metro-may-be-awarded-in-2018/ Official: Tender for Makkah Metro may be awarded in 2018]. Abdel-Razzaq. Jumana. www.constructionweekonline.com. 2018-03-10.
13. Web site: Saudi Arabia restarts Mecca metro project . Yasir Iqbal . MEED . 2024-06-10 . 2024-07-11.