The first phase of Makkah Metro, which will transport pilgrims between Makkah, Arafat, Muzdalifa and Mina, will be in operation during this year’s Haj, said a report.

The project, which covers 18 km, is scheduled to run at full capacity in 2011, when it will have 20 trains, each with 12 carriages, said a report in Arab News.

The rail is designed to carry 70,000 pilgrims per hour between the cities and reduce congestion caused by motor vehicles.