Haramain High Speed Railway: Booking & Travel Guide

The Haramain High-Speed Railway has transformed intercity travel across the western region of Saudi Arabia, connecting the holy cities and the coast with fast, comfortable, and reliable service. Whether you are commuting, visiting family, or performing Umrah, the train offers a hassle-free alternative to driving or flying between key destinations. This guide from Saudi Living walks you through everything you need to know to book, board, and travel with confidence.

Stations on the network

The railway links five stations across the region, giving you flexible entry and exit points depending on your destination:

• Makkah
• Jeddah
• Jeddah Airport
• King Abdullah Economic City
• Madinah

The Jeddah Airport station is especially convenient for travellers arriving internationally who want to head directly to Makkah or Madinah without transferring across the city.

How to book your ticket

You have several official ways to secure a seat. Choose whichever suits you best:

• The Haramain High-Speed Railway portal at sar.hhr.sa
• The Haramain High-Speed Railway mobile application
• Ticket offices at the stations
• Self-service ticket-vending machines

The booking process is straightforward. Select whether you want a one-way or round trip, then choose your route, travel date, number of passengers, the specific train, your class, and your seat. You will then enter your identity-document details, pay electronically, and receive a digital ticket with a QR code. Keep this ticket and QR code accessible, as you will need it to board.

Documents you need

When booking and travelling, you must provide accurate passenger information and a valid identity document. Have the following ready:

• Passenger full name
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Gender
• A valid National ID, Iqama, passport, or GCC ID, along with its expiry date

Important: the identity document you used during booking must be presented, or be available for verification, at the time of travel. Make sure the details match to avoid problems at the station.

Fares and classes

The train offers economy and business class. Typical published economy fares include:

• Makkah–Madinah: around SAR 150
• Jeddah–Madinah: around SAR 125
• Makkah–Jeddah: around SAR 40

Business-class fares vary substantially by route. Keep in mind that prices are not universally fixed — they change demand, seat availability, class, and applicable VAT. The official booking system always displays the exact, binding fare and the seats available for your chosen journey before you pay, so confirm the figure there rather than relying on estimates.

Travel times between cities

One of the biggest advantages of the railway is speed. Approximate journey times are:

• Makkah–Madinah: about 2 hours 20 minutes
• Jeddah–Madinah: about 1 hour 50 minutes
• Jeddah–Makkah: about 48 minutes
• Jeddah Airport–Makkah: about 1 hour 10 minutes

Ticket validity — read this carefully

Your ticket is valid only for the exact details you selected: the specified date, departure time, train, class, and seat. It is not an open-date or open-train ticket, so you cannot simply turn up and board a different departure. If your plans change, review the options in the booking system in advance rather than assuming flexibility on the day.

Practical tips for a smooth trip

• Book early for weekends, school holidays, and peak Umrah seasons, when seats fill quickly.
• Save your digital ticket and QR code offline in case of weak signal at the station.
• Arrive with enough time to pass through station checks and reach your platform.
• Double-check that your identity-document details are entered exactly as they appear on the document.
• As of now, there is no confirmed change for 2026 to the booking channels, required documents, or ticket-validity rules — but always confirm current details through the official portal before travelling.

With a little planning, the Haramain High-Speed Railway makes moving between the coast and the holy cities fast and stress-free. Book through the official channels, keep your documents in order, and enjoy the ride.

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