Rail E-ssentials

The Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddasah Makkah Metro Line provides safe, prompt and efficient transport services to the pilgrims to perform their Haj duties every year. To evaluate the operation of the Al Mashaaer Metro during Haj season 2016 (1437H), the Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) in Saudi Arabia has requested TÜV SÜD Rail. The objective of the request was to evaluate the quality of operation, including opinion of passengers and service providers during the operation period in the different areas and facilities of the metro line.

The Haj is the annual pilgrimage for Muslims to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Every year up to three million pilgrims perform their rituals abiding specific areas and time pressures in the holy places in Makkah.

The aim of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddasah Makkah Metro Line is to provide safe, prompt and efficient transport services to the pilgrims to perform their Haj duties between the Holy places in Makkah (Al Mashaaer Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddasah) on time and healthy environment.

The Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) in Saudi Arabia has requested TÜV SÜD Rail to evaluate the operation of the Al Mashaaer Metro during Haj season 2016, analogous to the former five years. The objective of the request was to evaluate the quality of operation, including opinion of passengers and service providers during the operation period in the different areas and facilities of the metro line. For the survey of passengers and service staff, project manager Mehmet Elbay from TÜV SÜD Rail assembled an admin team and an on-site survey team from Mecca and Jeddah. The project further took into consideration the requirements of the EN 13816 standard (transport logistics and services).

The Al Mashaaer Metro covering 20 km and nine stations runs from Arafat, over Muzdalifah to Mina and includes nine stations, each 300 m long. Each train capacity is around 3,200 passengers, helping prevent the use of many vehicles and buses. The alignment and stations are on elevated viaducts. The two track system is used in order to enable efficient boarding and alighting of the mass passengers. Each train consists of 12 cars and is completely interconnected. Every train is approximately 280 m long and 3.09 m wide, with 60 automatic doors on each side. The Saudi Press Agency report proposed further development and more investments to initiate other train lines in the area.

The metro operated with zero technical malfunction and a high level of satisfaction with the system and services during Haj Season 2016. All passengers have hold tickets and around 330,000 passengers used the Al Mashaaer Metro. TÜV SÜD Rail provided the evaluation report to the Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA). The result showed that the respondents considered the metro as the best transport solution for the Haj pilgrimage and recommended further investments in metro expansion.