Bengaluru, 23 May

For the first time, Indian Hajj pilgrims will reach the holy city of Medina by Haramain Train, a high-speed rail, from Mecca in just two hours. It takes about 10 hours’ drive to reach Mecca from Medina but with the introduction of high speed train service, it will cut down travel time by eight hours. 

The train is among the world’s top 10 fastest. The 450-km-long service aims to transport about 60 million passengers annually.

About 50 times a day these sleek, long-nosed javelins shoot across the baking-hot deserts of Saudi Arabia, reaching speeds of up to 300 kph (186 mph) carrying pilgrims and other passengers. Currently, 35 trains with 13 cars and 417 seats will run on tracks. The seats will be made available in two classes, namely business and economy, and people can book accordingly.

They are designed to handle soaring temperatures up to 50°C, which is also the maximum temperature recorded in Saudi Arabia.

Diplomatic sources at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah told Salar News that this year most Indian pilgrims are being accommodated in Markazi, central area of Medina, near the Prophet's Mosque. Indian pilgrims will also be accommodated in Zone One to Four in Mina.

A total of 1,75,025 pilgrims are going on the Hajj pilgrimage and among them 1,40,020 pilgrims have been facilitated by the Indian Central Hajj Committee.

Every day 4,000 pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia, and move from Medina to Mecca. Diplomats told Salar news that 52,000 pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia so far and among them 30,000 have camped in Medina.

Meanwhile, this year, 5,000 women without mahram will be performing Hajj, and exclusive women staff have been deputed to look after them during their stay in Saudi. An exclusive women's hospital with 30 bed capacity is being set up for these women pilgrims.

Additionally, Indian Consul General Mohammed Shahid Alam urged Indian pilgrims not to pick any item which is not belonging to them and found inside the Haram Sharif area. Salar News