"The criticism of citizens about Mashair Railway through the media shows their concern toward public projects. It is not aimed at creating suspicion about the project," he said.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the railway and traveling in the train, the prince said: "Citizens have the right to criticize public projects."
He said special panels are still studying the train's fare, adding that their proposal would be presented to Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif for approval.
"This railway is part of a series of development projects to be implemented in the holy sites," the minister said. "This year the train will be running on an experimental basis, using 30 percent of the facility," he said. More than 150,000 pilgrims are expected to use the facility this year.
Established at a cost of SR6.5 billion, the new railway will have a capacity to transport 72,000 pilgrims in an hour. Nine stations have been constructed in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifa, each having three stations.
Habib Zain Al-Abidine, deputy minister of municipal and rural affairs, said the railway would have 10 trains in the first phase, each with a length of 300 meters. "Each train will carry 3,000 passengers."
The time for transporting pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifa will be reduced to five minutes on the 9th of Dul Hijjah when the faithful will move together from the plain of Arafat to Muzdalifa. And another five minutes will take them from Muzdalifa to Mina on the 10th.
