Travel time between Riyadh and Qassim will be cut down to just a little over two hours as the Saudi Railway Company (SAR) is expected to flag off a train that will travel at 200 kph by the year-end.
The train underwent trial runs last week and will operate daily between the two key cities via Mujamma’ah, sources said, adding that Hail and Al-Jauf will be covered at later stages from Al-Qurrayat.
It is for the first time that a passenger train will run at such high speed. The trial runs were aimed at ensuring that the train was completely safe before its official launch and that the basic infrastructure, cadres and maintenance systems were in place. 
Once operational, the train will help thousands of citizens, especially those residing in the northern villages of Al-Jauf and Hail, travel easily, safely and fast to and from Riyadh and nearby areas. 
The SAR finalized the northern railway for passengers wishing to travel between Riyadh and Al-Qurrayat, and is preparing for actual operation. 
The rail line is 1,250 km and has six stations — Riyadh, Al-Mujamma’ah, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf and Al-Qurrayat. In 2011, the company began operating freight trains to carry phosphate from the Northern Borders Region to refining plants at Ras Al-Khair Port in the Arabian Gulf. 
The company also launched a freight train line in May 2014 for the transfer of bauxite from Al-Baeetha mine in Qassim to Ras Al-Khair. 
The 280-meter-long train has a seating capacity of 444 passengers, USB chargers for phones, WiFi, tables for eating, as well as noise control buttons, special seats for privacy, and a restaurant with fast food options.

Source: Arab News