Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Hitachi Rail have signed a contract to modernize the Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro, the rail line that carries pilgrims between the holy sites during the annual Hajj. According to Railway Gazette International, the agreement was signed on September 23, 2026, at the InnoTrans railway trade fair in Berlin. The deal targets the reliability and long-term performance of one of the busiest seasonal railways in the world.
The Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro runs for 18 kilometers and serves nine stations. It links Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat, the sites where pilgrims move in sequence during the days of Hajj. The line operates only during the Hajj season, when demand for transport between these locations peaks within a matter of hours.
Why the Metro Matters for Pilgrims
The scale of the movement the metro handles is difficult to match by road. According to Railway Gazette, a journey between Arafat and Mina can take up to eight hours by car or bus during Hajj because of severe congestion. The metro completes the same trip in under one hour.
The line is designed to carry 72,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Reporting from Railway-News notes that the system can transport more than 500,000 pilgrims within an eight-hour window. That capacity is central to the Kingdom's efforts to reduce crowding and heat exposure during the ritual days, when large numbers of people travel between the sites at the same time.
What the New Contract Covers
The modernization work will be carried out by Hitachi Rail's Signalling and Rail Solutions division. According to the company, the contract focuses on three priorities: enhancing reliability, improving operational performance, and ensuring long-term service sustainability. The line was originally equipped with signalling technology from a Hitachi Rail unit, and the new agreement builds on that earlier work.
Carlo Piacenza, Hitachi Rail's Signalling and Rail Solutions Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, described the deal as a continuation of a long relationship with the Saudi operator. He said the revamping of the Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro marks another significant milestone in the company's longstanding partnership with SAR. Dr. Bashar Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Saudi Arabia Railways, represented the operator at the signing.
The upgrade supports the broader goals of the Pilgrim Experience Program under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to expand the capacity and quality of services offered to those performing Hajj and Umrah. Transport between the holy sites is a recurring pressure point during Hajj, and a more dependable metro reduces reliance on buses that share congested roads.
Context Within Saudi Hajj Preparations
The contract lands as Saudi authorities continue preparing for the 2027 Hajj season. Registration drives have opened across several countries in recent weeks, and the Kingdom has announced new accommodation standards and restructured service packages. Infrastructure that moves pilgrims safely and quickly between Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat is a key part of that preparation.
Because the metro operates only during Hajj, its performance is tested over a short and intense period each year. A signalling and systems overhaul is intended to keep trains running at close intervals and to limit disruptions when the line is under its heaviest load.
Practical Tips for Pilgrims
For those planning to perform Hajj, a few points are worth keeping in mind. Access to the Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah Metro is arranged through official Hajj packages and service providers, not booked individually, so pilgrims should confirm with their operator whether metro transport is included in their itinerary. Pilgrims should also carry their identification and any assigned metro cards or wristbands, since access and station timing are managed by group and by scheduled movement between the sites.
It remains wise to plan for walking and waiting even where the metro is available, to stay hydrated, and to follow the movement instructions issued by group leaders and Saudi authorities. Pilgrims should rely on official channels, including the Nusuk platform and their licensed Hajj company, for the most current transport arrangements ahead of the 2027 season.