THE LAUNCH of passenger services on Saudi Arabia's North-South Railway has come a step closer to fruition following the signing of a Riyals 1.57bn ($US 419m) contract to build five stations.

 

The contract awarded to Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting, Saudi Arabia, covers the construction of stations at Majma'ah, Qasseem (Buraydah), Ha'il, Al Jawf, and Qurayat, which will all be completed in 2014.

Four passenger services per day will connect Riyadh and Ha'il in less than six hours, initially operating at speeds of up to 160-200km/h.