The Haramain High-Speed Train links Makkah and Madinah in about two to two and three-quarter hours, against roughly six hours by road.
It also connects both cities directly to Terminal 1 at Jeddah airport: about 45 minutes to Makkah and about 1 hour 45 minutes to Madinah. For pilgrims, the fine print matters more than the speed: one large bag per person, stations outside the city centres, and a miqat to think about when you ride from Madinah to Makkah.
Top speed · 300 km/h
Luggage · 1 bag, 25 kg
This guide is written for travellers from the U.S. and Canada, many of them first-timers and many travelling with older parents. It covers the route, what to expect at each station, the luggage and wheelchair rules, and the question most guides skip: whether the train or a coach is the better choice for your trip.
Route, Stations and Journey Times
The Haramain line runs about 450 km from Makkah to Madinah with three stops in between: Jeddah city (Al-Sulaymaniyah), King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). Trains reach 300 km/h. The operator publishes station opening hours of 6:30 am to 12:30 am.
| Between | Approximate time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Makkah – Madinah | 2 h – 2 h 45 min | Faster on trains with fewer stops |
| Jeddah airport – Makkah | About 45 min | Airport station is linked to Terminal 1 |
| Jeddah airport – Madinah | About 1 h 45 min | Useful for Madinah-first itineraries |
| Makkah – Madinah by road | About 6 h | For comparison: coach or car |
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Classes and Tickets
There are two classes. Economy has standard reclining seats. Business has wider seats with more legroom, power sockets and a screen, and it is also where the wheelchair spaces are. Each train carries 417 seats, 113 of them in Business. A cafeteria is on board, though full meals have been listed as temporarily unavailable.
Book only through the official channels: the operator’s website at sar.hhr.sa, ticket offices and vending machines at the stations. Search results for “Haramain train” are full of look-alike booking sites. Gulf News reported sample Economy fares in 2025 of SAR 34 from the airport to Makkah and from SAR 150 from Jeddah to Madinah, with discounts for children; check current fares on the official site, as they change. The operator also asks passengers to check ticket details and carry their identity documents on the trip.
The Luggage Rule That Catches Pilgrims
Each passenger may take one large bag of up to 25 kg and up to 65 × 55 × 35 cm, plus one small hand item such as a backpack or handbag. That is the operator’s published rule, and it is the one that catches travellers from North America, who often fly with two checked bags each.
- Large bag: one per passenger, up to 25 kg, up to 65 × 55 × 35 cm.
- Hand item: one backpack, laptop bag, camera bag, purse or baby bag.
- On board: overhead shelves for hand luggage and dedicated racks for large bags.
- Not stated: the baggage page says nothing about Zamzam cartons or extra-bag fees. Ask before you travel.
From the Station to Your Hotel
Neither main station is next to its Holy Mosque, so every train journey ends with a road transfer. The operator places Makkah station in Ar Rusayfah, 3.5 km from Masjid al-Haram. Madinah station is in the Al Hadra district, which the operator describes as 9 km from Madinah; the Madinah bus network has run a service between the station and the Prophet’s Mosque from 7 am to 11 pm, timed to arrivals.
In practice, the last few kilometres can take longer than you expect at prayer times, when roads near the Haram are often closed to traffic. Groups are normally met by a coach; independent travellers use taxis, ride-hailing or the city buses.
Ihram When Riding From Madinah to Makkah
If you travel from Madinah to Makkah to perform Umrah, you pass the miqat of Dhul-Hulayfah, about 14 km from the Prophet’s Mosque, and the train does not stop there. Saudi guidance for people who pass a miqat in a vehicle that cannot stop, such as a plane, is to enter ihram before reaching it. Pilgrims commonly apply the same approach to the train.
- Put on ihram clothing at your Madinah hotel or at the Dhul-Hulayfah mosque on the way to the station.
- Make the intention and begin the Talbiyah before the train passes the miqat, rather than waiting until Makkah.
- Ask your group’s scholar how they want the group to handle it. This is operational guidance, not a Saudi rule written for the train.
The miqat question does not arise if you arrive from Jeddah airport already in ihram, which is the usual pattern for a Makkah-first trip from North America. Our guide to the miqat on flights from the USA covers that side, and the rules of ihram apply from the moment you make the intention.
Wheelchairs and Older Travellers
Each train has two seats with wheelchair bays, both in the Business coach, and companions must travel in the same class. Assistance is requested when booking. The operator says that when more than three wheelchair users travel together, or the bays are taken, staff will help passengers into regular seats. Passengers with a disability are entitled to a discount, and the operator asks them to bring a disability ID card.
For a family with one parent in a wheelchair, that means booking Business early, especially in Ramadan and around Hajj. In the last ten days of Ramadan 2026 the operator ran more than 140 trips a day, and during Hajj 1447 it carried more than 1.16 million passengers. Demand in those weeks is high enough that seats, and wheelchair bays in particular, go early.
Train or Coach for a Group?
Neither is simply better. The train saves hours; a coach saves effort. Which one serves you depends on your luggage, your party and the direction you are travelling.
- Time matters: about 2 to 2¾ hours instead of about 6
- Each traveller can manage with one large bag
- You are travelling Makkah to Madinah, with no miqat to stop at
- Someone meets you at the station for the last few kilometres
- You are carrying more than one large bag each
- You want door-to-door, hotel to hotel
- You travel Madinah to Makkah and want to stop at the miqat mosque
- Older travellers find stations, escalators and platforms tiring
Hisar Tour groups travel between the cities by the Haramain train or by private coach, depending on the package; your itinerary states which one, and the choice shapes how you should pack. Whether you go Makkah or Madinah first decides the direction of the transfer.
See how the transfer works on your dates
Compare Hisar Tour’s Umrah departures, hotels and itineraries, including how each group moves between Makkah and Madinah. Every group travels with an experienced imam.
See Umrah Packages
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Haramain train from Makkah to Madinah?
About two to two and three-quarter hours, depending on how many stops the train makes. The same trip by road takes about six hours.
Can I take the Haramain train from Jeddah airport?
Yes. The airport station is linked to Terminal 1 at King Abdulaziz International Airport. It is about 45 minutes to Makkah and about 1 hour 45 minutes to Madinah.
How much luggage can I take on the Haramain train?
One large bag of up to 25 kg and 65 × 55 × 35 cm per passenger, plus one small hand item. The operator’s baggage page does not address Zamzam cartons, so ask before you travel.
Do I wear ihram on the train from Madinah to Makkah?
If you are going to Makkah for Umrah, you pass the miqat of Dhul-Hulayfah and the train does not stop there. Most pilgrims put on ihram before boarding and make the intention before the train passes the miqat. Ask your group’s scholar how to handle it.
Is the Haramain train wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Each train has two wheelchair bays, both in Business class, and assistance is requested when you book. Book early in Ramadan and around Hajj.
Journey times, baggage rules and accessibility details are as published by the Haramain High Speed Railway and the Saudi Press Agency, checked in September 2026. Fares are those reported by Gulf News in 2025 and change; the official site is the reference. Station distances are the operator’s figures. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Sources: Haramain Railway — baggage · Makkah station · Madinah station · Airport station · On-board services · Travel tips · SPA — Hajj 1447 rail plan and times · SPA — Ramadan 1447 last ten days · SPA — Hajj 1447 results · SPA — Madinah bus to the station · Saudipedia — Haramain railway · Saudipedia — Dhul-Hulayfah · Saudipedia — the miqats · Gulf News — fares