Assalamualaikum.
My wife and I chose the Haramain High Speed Railway, trading a six-to-eight-hour bus ride for a swift two-hour-and-twenty-minute sprint across the desert. To keep things seamless, we arranged for escort services to manage our transfers between the hotels and stations. After finishing lunch and offering our Zuhr prayers, we met our escort, Ustaz Anas, at 1:35 pm in the sub-lobby of Makkah Towers’ Tower 6. Traveling light with only our overnight bags, we left our heavy luggage to be transported separately by bus.
Ustaz Anas will be taking us to the HHSR Station by taxi.
Went down this stair to the basement taxi bay.
The main taxi pickup and drop-off point near the Makkah Tower Hotel (Abraj Al Bait/Clock Tower) is located in the underground parking levels, specifically P5 or the general basement levels accessed by elevators. Shuttles and app-based taxis (Uber/Bolt/Jeeny) use this area to avoid street traffic, offering direct access to the shopping center and escalators to the Haram.
The P5 level is a common underground drop-off and pickup zone for hotels near the Haram to help manage the heavy surface-level traffic.
It took us about 27 minutes by taxi to reach the Makkah HHSR station from the P5 underground parking area.
While the distance is relatively short (roughly 5–8 km), heavy traffic near the Haram and Umm Al Qura Road often extends a typical 10-minute drive into a 25 to 40-minute journey.
Arrived at the Makkah Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR) Station.
Upon arrival, we followed Ustaz Anas into the station as he will show us the train boarding point/platform.
The Makkah Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR) Station, also known as Rusaiyfah Station, is a major transportation hub in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It serves as the southern terminus of the 450 km Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR) line, connecting the holy city to Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), and Medina.
📘Key Station Details
🔹Location: Situated in the Ar Rusayfah District near the 3rd Ring Road, approximately 3–4 km from the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram).
🔹Design: An "aesthetically iconic" building incorporating Islamic architectural traditions with modern features like deep overhanging roof canopies for heat protection.
🔹Access: Please note that access to this station is generally restricted to Muslim visitors only, as it is located within the holy boundaries of Makkah.
📘Travel Experience
🔹Speed & Time: The high-speed trains travel at up to 300 km/h.
- Makkah to Jeddah: ~43 minutes.
- Makkah to Medina: ~2 hours 20 minutes.
🔹Frequency: Over 15 daily departures, with increased frequency (up to 50 services daily) during peak seasons like Ramadan and Hajj.
🔹Amenities: The station includes shops, restaurants, prayer rooms, VIP lounges, a helipad, and extensive car parking.
📘Logistics & Practical Info
🔹Ticketing: It is highly recommended to book tickets online in advance through the official HHR website or app to secure seats and lower fares.
🔹Transportation to Al-Haram:
- Makkah Bus: Free shuttle services (Bus 7A) often run between the station and the Grand Mosque.
- Taxis/E-hailing: Services like Uber, Careem, and Bolt are widely available.
🔹Security & Boarding: Similar to airport procedures, passengers must undergo security and baggage screening. Arriving at least 60 minutes before departure is advised.
🔹Baggage Policy: One large suitcase (up to 25 kg) and one small hand-carry item per passenger are typically allowed.
We arrived at Makkah Station at 2:07 PM, well ahead of our 4:20 PM departure. However, the early arrival was a blessing; the station’s calm atmosphere offered a comfortable, unhurried space to wait and reflect before the next leg of our journey.
A photo with Ustaz Anas.
Our train number 162 will depart from Platform 9.
The extra time was a blessing, allowing us to admire the station’s stunning architecture, with its soaring ceilings and modern design. The waiting area was incredibly comfortable, offering a calm retreat from the city's bustle. We especially appreciated how spacious the praying area was and spent the rest of our time exploring the retail shops and various cafés and restaurants scattered throughout the concourse. It felt less like a transit hub and more like a peaceful extension of our journey.
At 4 p.m., all passengers of HSR Train 162 were called to board.
Heading to Platform 9.
Promptly at 4:20 PM, our train pulled out of Makkah Station to begin the journey to Madinah. The popularity of the high-speed rail was clear; the train was bustling with travelers, and our carriage, in particular, was at full capacity.
The following photos that my wife and I managed to take I believe captured the changing rhythm of our journey. The visual details helped weave our story.
The views from the HSR were a highlight of the trip. As we sped away from Makkah, the view from our window transformed into a moving gallery of Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes. Looking out the window, I was struck by how much the scenery changed in just over two hours.
We first watched the dense, stacked architecture of the city blur past, soon giving way to the winding highways that cut through the rugged outskirts.
The sleek, modern lines of the station briefly filled our view and we made a quick, smooth stop at the Jeddah station, which looked incredibly futuristic through the glass. Minutes after that we were thrust back into the desert.
Jeddah Station.
King Abdullah Economic City Station.
The most breathtaking part, however, was the vastness that followed: jagged, ancient mountain ranges rising from the sand, all bathed in the warm, golden glow of a desert sunset. Watching the sun dip behind those silhouetted peaks was the perfect, quiet conclusion to our journey to Madinah.
Stunning sunset that turned the whole landscape gold. It was so peaceful to just sit back and watch the world go by at 300 km/h.
The journey ended with a spectacular sunset over the dunes—a truly serene way to approach the city of the Prophet (PBUH).
The 2-hour and 20-minute HSR journey from Makkah to Madinah was as peaceful as it was fast. We traveled in total comfort, tucked into spacious seats with the air conditioning providing a cool escape from the heat. As we sped across the desert, we watched a breathtaking sunset paint the plains in colors we’ll never forget. The coach was remarkably quiet; it felt as though every passenger was lost in their own thoughts—perhaps, like us, already feeling the silent ache of leaving the Holy City behind. It was as if we were all collectively mourning the departure from Makkah while looking forward to what lies ahead.
Disembarkation.
SAR الشركة السعودية للخطوط الحديدية - SAR Saudi Railway Company.
Portraits of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Note: In Saudi Arabia, the religious title "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" is used in place of "His Majesty" for the King.
Upon arriving at the Madinah Station, we were greeted by Ustaz Firdaus, who was already there to escort us to our hotel.
To be continued.
Till the next coming entry, inshaAllah. Meanwhile do take care.
No photograph or videos may be reproduced, downloaded, copied, stored, manipulated, or used whole or in part of a derivative work, without written permission from Syed Amran. All rights reserved.
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