Saudi Arabia Railways has announced that it has awarded a major contract to Hitachi Rail for the revamp of the Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro Project (MMMP), thus marking a significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation of railway infrastructure serving the serving the holy sites in the kingdom.

The MMMP plays a vital role in transporting pilgrims between Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The 18-km metro network comprises nine stations and is designed to carry  72,000 passengers per hour per direction, ensuring the safe and efficient movement of millions of pilgrims.

The contract was signed by Dr Bashar Al Malik, the CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways and Carlo Piacenza, the Signalling and Rail Solutions (SRS) Vice President – Middle East and Africa at Hitachi Rail.

Under the contract, Hitachi Rail will be responsible for improving Railway system reliability; operational performance and efficiency; long-term service sustainability as well as overall mobility and passenger experience during Hajj.

On the deal, Piacenza said the revamping of the MMMP Metro represents another milestone in the company’s partnership with Saudi Rail.

The project will support the Kingdom’s transportation ambitions and contribute to improving the experience of millions of pilgrims travelling during Hajj, he added.