The Cobra Group successfully completed the first high-speed rail trip between Medina and Mecca

The high-speed train between Medina and Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the largest international contract undertaken by the Cobra Group, successfully completed the first high-speed trip between the Saudi cities of Medina and Mecca.

The first trip, called a ‘demo trip’, was taken pm 31 December by guests of the consortium, comprised of Cobra, Renfe, Adif, OHL, Indra, Talgo and Copasa, to show them how the infrastructure and its systems and service work.

The high-speed train covered the 450 kilometre length of the line in just 2 hours and 52 minutes. The test run between Medina and Mecca, some 100 km, was done in both directions. Spain was represented by the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Álvaro Iranzo, and the chairman of the Spanish consortium, Jorge Segrelles, amongst others.

The Saudi authorities were very satisfied with the trip in which they observed the correct functioning of the rail infrastructure, a “milestone” on the way to the upcoming commercial commissioning.