The Haramain
High Speed Rail system is to transport Muslim pilgrims, as well as
regular travellers, 450 kilometres (280 miles) between the holy cities
of Mecca and Medina via the Red Sea port of Jeddah.
Saudi
Arabia signed a deal three years ago for a Spanish consortium to build
the rail track, supply 35 high-speed trains and handle a 12-year
maintenance contract.
The
Saudi Bin Laden Consortium and Saudi Oger Joint Venture received
contracts for four stations, while Al-Rajhi Alliance in 2009 won the bid
to construct bridges, culverts and similar work.
But
during a two-day inspection tour last week, the kingdom's new Transport
Minister Abdullah bin Abdulrahman al-Muqbel warned that time was
running out, his ministry said in a statement obtained on Wednesday.
After
visiting the Mecca station and bridges along the route, Muqbel told the
contractor -- which was not named -- "to present an urgent plan to
avoid delays within the next two months," by increasing the workforce
and supplies.
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