Saudi Arabia's high-speed rail project launches at 300kmph
High-speed railway links Mecca and Medina
Saudi Arabia, Sept 25: Saudi King Salman on Tuesday inaugurated a high-speed railway linking Mecca and Medina, Islam's holiest cities, described by local officials as the biggest transportation project in the region.
The Haramain High-Speed Rail system will transport Muslim pilgrims, as well as regular travellers, 450 kilometres (280 miles) between the two cities via the Red Sea port of Jeddah in two hours.
"This project is considered the biggest transport project in the Middle East," Mohammed Falaha, a Haramain project manager, told AFP.
Thirty-five passenger trains capable of travelling at speeds of 300 kilometres per hour will slash the travel time from several hours to 120 minutes, transport officials said.
The rail project, dogged by several delays, was built at a cost of more than $16 billion, according to Saudi media.
In 2011, Saudi Arabia signed a deal for a Spanish consortium to build the rail track, supply 35 high-speed trains and handle a 12-year maintenance contract.
The kingdom is boosting its infrastructure spending and expanding its railways, including with a $22.5 billion metro system under construction in the capital Riyadh, as it seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy.
The annual hajj pilgrimage, which is to be held in September next year, attracts more than two million Muslims to the Mecca region.
Courtesy: www.khaleejtimes.com
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Shepherd in Raichur struck by lightning dies on way to hospital
Raichur: In an incident that occurred on the outskirts of Ankushadoddi village in Maski taluk, a 32-year-old shepherd was struck dead by lightning on Tuesday evening.
The deceased has been identified as Ramanna Nayak, who was a resident of Ankushadoddi.
Nayaka had gone to graze sheep on the outskirts of the village and was returning in the evening, when a thunderstorm struck the village. The shepherd was hit by a lightning during the rain and was seriously injured.
He was taken to the hospital in Maski, but is learned to have died on the way
Revenue as well as police officials visited the village and held an inspection.
