Haramain High-Speed Railway Sets Ramadan Record, Transporting 48,000 Passengers in a Single Day

The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)
The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)
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Haramain High-Speed Railway Sets Ramadan Record, Transporting 48,000 Passengers in a Single Day

The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)
The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month. (SPA)

The Haramain High-Speed Railway set a record for the highest number of passengers transported in a single day since its inauguration in 2018, with around 48,000 passengers on the 15th day of Ramadan.

Since the beginning of the holy month, the average daily ridership has exceeded 39,000 passengers, reflecting the high demand for the train as the fastest means of reaching Makkah.

The train continues to operate at full capacity, with the number of daily trips gradually increasing since the start of Ramadan, reaching 130 trips per day during the last 10 days of the month.

To accommodate this significant demand, the Saudi Railway Company (SAR) has adjusted the train schedules to match peak times for Umrah performers, worshippers, and visitors.

Modifications have also been made to passenger flow routes within stations, and extra lounges have been provided at the Madinah station to facilitate smoother movement and enhance the travel experience.

The Haramain High-Speed Railway is one of the most prominent transportation projects serving worshippers year-round. It connects Makkah and Madinah, passing through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, and King Abdullah Economic City. Operating on a 453-kilometer electric line, it ranks among the top 10 fastest trains in the world, with an operational speed of up to 300 km/h.

SAR announced its operational plan for Ramadan before the season began, which included providing 1.6 million seats across more than 3,400 trips on the Haramain High-Speed Railway.



Acropolis to Close in the Afternoon Due to Heatwave

People stand in a shade while visiting the Acropolis, at the start of a 3-days heatwave with temperatures expected to overpass 40 Celsius degrees, in Athens, Greece, July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
People stand in a shade while visiting the Acropolis, at the start of a 3-days heatwave with temperatures expected to overpass 40 Celsius degrees, in Athens, Greece, July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
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Acropolis to Close in the Afternoon Due to Heatwave

People stand in a shade while visiting the Acropolis, at the start of a 3-days heatwave with temperatures expected to overpass 40 Celsius degrees, in Athens, Greece, July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki
People stand in a shade while visiting the Acropolis, at the start of a 3-days heatwave with temperatures expected to overpass 40 Celsius degrees, in Athens, Greece, July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

Greece's culture ministry on Tuesday ordered a partial closure of the Acropolis, the country's top monument, to protect visitors amid heatwave conditions.

The ministry in a statement said the site would be closed from 1:00 to 5:00 pm (1000 to 1400 GMT) "for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures."

The four-day heatwave that began Sunday is the second to grip Greece since late June.

Temperatures in the country are expected to reach 42 Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, with a maximum of 38 Celsius in Athens.

Similar temperatures are expected Wednesday.

The 2,500-year-old Acropolis, built on a rock overlooking the capital that offers little shade, draws tens of thousands of visitors daily.

Last year it recorded some 4.5 million visitors, an increase of over 15 percent compared to 2023.