To build a high-speed rail line in Saudi Arabia, Tata Steel has bagged an order to manufacture 60,000 tonne of high-quality rail. The rail line is to link the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina in the country. The new railway line is planned to carry around 1,60,000 people a day and even more during the Hajj pilgrimage season.
When the new railway come into service it will allow millions of pilgrims to travel 444 km between the two cities at a speed of 320 km per hour. Steel for the project will be made at Tata Steel’s Scunthorpe plant before being rolled into rail in lengths of 25 metres.
According to Tata Steel, besides the two holy cities, the line will have three other stops, two in Jeddah for commuters and one in Saudi Arabia’s new King Abdullah Economic City.