Train ride is one of the best modes of transport among tourists visiting Saudi Arabia as the country has quickly come up with an efficient and modern railway system. Regardless of whether you are traveling within Makkah, Madinah or Jeddah, the booking of Saudi Arabia railways is easy, quick and online even to international visitors.
You will find out the precise method of booking train tickets in Saudi Arabia increment by increment in this ultimate guide, which is founded on genuine and confirmed data of Arabian Trains and other trusted sources.
The Reasons to Use Train Travel in Saudi Arabia?
The railway network of Saudi Arabia has some of the most convenient means of travelling in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to efficient services, high-speed trains and the possibility of simple booking. Travelling in Saudi Arabia is becoming more acceptable to tourists due to its convenient, and comfortable mode of travelling.
- Quick transportation among the big cities such as Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.
- Economy and Business Class Comfortable Seating.
Frequent daily departures
The railroad infrastructure is not only satisfactory but also enables tourists to visit the nation safely and efficiently.
Who is able to Book Train Tickets?
Booking is extremely convenient to tourists who frequent come to the country.
According to Arabian Trains:
- Passport number is all that foreigners need to book a ticket.
- None of Saudi ID or Absher account is needed.
- After booking, e-ticket is provided instantly.
- This renders the system particularly tourist friendly.
The ways to book tickets on the trains in Saudi Arabia.
The first step to follow is to know what you can book before booking.
1. Online Booking (Recommended)
The simplest and most popular method is through online booking through railway websites or applications.
2. Mobile Apps
Current reservations can be done using official railway apps such as SAR or Haramain Railway apps.
3. Train Station Counters
In stations (self-service kiosk and ticket office) there are also available tickets.
4. Call Center (Special cases)
Customer service is available with regards to group booking or special requests.
A Guide in Booking Train Tickets Step-by-Step.
The pace-by-pace procedure is founded on the official working process of the Arabian Trains:
Step 1: Select departure and arrival station.
You may start with a point of starting and end. Popular routes include:
- Makkah → Madinah
- Jeddah → Makkah
- Madinah → Jeddah
They constitute some of the widely-used vacationer routes.
Step 2: Choose Your date of travel.
Choose the date when you want to travel and make a choice:
- One-way ticket
- Round-trip ticket
- The reservations should be made ahead, especially, during the peak seasons.
Step 3: Add Passengers
- Type in the number of travelers.
- Complete name (as per a passport)
- Passport number
- This will be required in boarding.
Step 4: Choose and Select Class.
The list of trains that will be available is:
- Departure times
- Travel duration
- Ticket prices
Step 5: Type in Passenger Details.
Complete passenger details. Necessary documents can be:
- Passport (for tourists)
- National number or Iqama (in case of residents)
- It is important that you are accurate since you have to present the same document at the time of boarding.
Step 6: Make Payment
You can pay using:
- Credit/debit card.
- Apple Pay (some)
- Cash (in case of booking in station)
- The best and quickest is online payment.
Step 7: Pick up your E-Ticket.
After successful payment:
- Your e-ticket is delivered to your mail.
- It includes a QR code
- You can display it in your phone at the station.
- There’s no need to print the ticket.
Tourist Tips that are important to the tourists.
1.Firstly, Book Early when seasons are at their peak.
During Hajj, Umrah and weekends, trains are crowded in a short time. Always make a reservation.
2. Select the appropriate Class.
Economy: Comfortable and low cost.
Business: Additional space and high quality services.
3. Be at Station on Time.
Report at least 30-60 minutes prior to departure to have a smooth boarding.
4. Have Your Passport Ready.
You will need it to check in boarding the train.
5. Official Platforms Only.
Third party scams are the bane to avoid and should never be booked through them.
The most popular Train Routes among tourists.
Arabian Trains claim that the most popular routes are:
- Makkah – Madinah (around 2 hours)
- Jeddah Makkah (less than 1 hour)
- Jeddah Airport → Madinah
These are the best routes that pilgrims and tourists can visit major cities.
The reason why the Haramain Train is popular among tourists.
The Haramain Trains is the most preferred among the visitors because of:
- High-speed travel (as high as 300 km/h)
- Direct links among sacred cities.
- Less time taken to travel than to use road transport.
Final Thoughts
Train tickets in Saudi Arabia can be easily booked and are tourist friendly. With the new online systems and platforms such as Arabian Trains, passengers are able to plan their trips with ease, in a few simple steps.
To summarize:
- Choose your route
- Select travel date
- Add passengers
- Select your train and class.
- Add information and make payment.
- Receive your e-ticket