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Haramain High-Speed Rail to Resume Operations End of March

Haramain high-speed railway operations were during over the pandemic. (SPA)
Haramain high-speed railway operations were during over the pandemic. (SPA)
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Haramain High-Speed Rail to Resume Operations End of March

Haramain high-speed railway operations were during over the pandemic. (SPA)
Haramain high-speed railway operations were during over the pandemic. (SPA)

Haramain High-Speed Rail announced that it will resume operations as of Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

Passengers can start booking tickets from and to Makkah, Madinah, King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, and King Abdullah Economic City stations, as of Monday, March 15.

The railway services were suspended on March 21, 2020 as part of the Saudi government's efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic.

Notably, the Haramain service is one of the biggest public transport projects in the Middle East, a 450 kilometer two-way electric train linking Makkah and Madinah, with extensions to Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City.

The project will transport 60 million passengers per year on 35 trains, with a seating capacity of 417 per train and traveling at a speed of 300 kph.

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Oil Prices Headed for Rebound This Week as US-China Trade Talks Resume

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
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Oil Prices Headed for Rebound This Week as US-China Trade Talks Resume

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo

Oil prices slipped on Friday but were on track for their first weekly gain in three weeks after US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping resumed trade talks, raising hopes for growth and stronger demand in the world's two largest economies.

Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $65.23 a barrel as of 0634 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude gave up 12 cents, also 0.2%, to $63.25, after gaining around 50 cents on Thursday, Reuters said.

On a weekly basis, both benchmarks were on track to settle higher after falling for two straight weeks. Brent has advanced 2.1% this week, while WTI is trading 4% higher.

China's official Xinhua news agency said trade talks between Xi and Trump took place at Washington's request. Trump said the call had led to a "very positive conclusion," adding the US was "in very good shape with China and the trade deal."

Canada also continued trade talks with the US, with Prime Minister Mark Carney in direct contact with Trump, according to Industry Minister Melanie Joly.

The oil market continued to swing with news on tariff negotiations and data showing how trade uncertainty and the impact of the US levies are flowing through into the global economy.

"The potential for increased US sanctions in Venezuela to limit crude exports and the potential for Israeli strike on Iranian infrastructure add to upside risks for prices," analysts at BMI, a Fitch affiliate, said in a note on Friday.

"But both weaker demand for oil and increased production from both OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers will add to downside price pressures in the coming quarters."