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    <title>Aaj TV English News - World</title>
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    <language>en-Us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright 2026</copyright>
    <pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:04:39 +0500</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:04:39 +0500</lastBuildDate>
    <ttl>60</ttl>
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      <title>Saudi Railways announces 25% increase in seats for Hajj 2025 pilgrims</title>
      <link>https://english.aaj.tv/news/330415833/saudi-railways-announces-25-increase-in-seats-for-hajj-2025-pilgrims</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Saudi Railways (SAR) has announced its operational plan for Hajj 2025, unveiling a 25% increase in available rail seats to accommodate the rising number of pilgrims.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Haramain High-Speed Railway, one of the fastest in the world, is set to transport two million pilgrims this season, with an additional 400,000 seats added to meet the surge in demand.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to SAR, the Haramain Railway will operate 4,768 trips between Madinah and Makkah until 20 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The fleet includes 35 high-speed trains running at 300 km/h, each with a capacity of 417 passengers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Moreover, the railway system promises a modern, eco-friendly, and efficient travel experience for pilgrims.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Saudi Arabia has mobilized 25,000 buses and expanded its air, sea, and rail services.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has secured three million flight seats, while Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will operate 2,000 flights, offering one million seats for international pilgrims.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;However, the Al Mashair Metro is also set to play a critical role, with 2,000 scheduled trips to transport more than two million passengers between key religious sites.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has deployed 436 staff members at the Jeddah Islamic Port to facilitate the smooth arrival of 5,000 pilgrims.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Additionally, Saudi Post (SPL) has introduced refrigerated vehicles to transport medical supplies, reflecting increased attention to health logistics during the Hajj season.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Strict measures are in place to ensure orderly conduct during the pilgrimage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Saudi authorities have warned of severe penalties for unauthorized pilgrimages, including fines ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 Saudi Riyals, imprisonment, deportation, and a 10-year entry ban.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, emphasized the importance of compliance, revealing that over 11,000 Pakistani pilgrims overstayed their visas during the previous Hajj season.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To address this, Pakistani pilgrims will now receive smart electronic wristbands to help monitor movements and ensure timely departures. Overstaying in the Haram region is now classified as a serious offence and will be met with strict enforcement.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Read more&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;blockquote class="blockquote-level-1"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://english.aaj.tv/news/330413991/pakistan-streamlines-hajj-operations-schedules-first-flight-to-makkah"&gt;Pakistan streamlines Hajj operations, schedules first flight to Makkah&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;blockquote class="blockquote-level-1"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://english.aaj.tv/news/330413670/pm-shehbaz-sharif-assures-efforts-to-resolve-private-hajj-pilgrims-issue"&gt;PM Shehbaz Sharif assures efforts to resolve private Hajj pilgrims issue&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/blockquote&gt;
&lt;blockquote class="blockquote-level-1"&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://english.aaj.tv/news/330414908/saudi-arabia-issues-paid-leave-guidelines-for-hajj-2025"&gt;Saudi Arabia issues paid leave guidelines for Hajj 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/blockquote&gt;
</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[<p><strong>Saudi Railways (SAR) has announced its operational plan for Hajj 2025, unveiling a 25% increase in available rail seats to accommodate the rising number of pilgrims.</strong></p>
<p>The Haramain High-Speed Railway, one of the fastest in the world, is set to transport two million pilgrims this season, with an additional 400,000 seats added to meet the surge in demand.</p>
<p>According to SAR, the Haramain Railway will operate 4,768 trips between Madinah and Makkah until 20 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446.</p>
<p>The fleet includes 35 high-speed trains running at 300 km/h, each with a capacity of 417 passengers.</p>
<p>Moreover, the railway system promises a modern, eco-friendly, and efficient travel experience for pilgrims.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia has mobilized 25,000 buses and expanded its air, sea, and rail services.</p>
<p>The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has secured three million flight seats, while Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will operate 2,000 flights, offering one million seats for international pilgrims.</p>
<p>However, the Al Mashair Metro is also set to play a critical role, with 2,000 scheduled trips to transport more than two million passengers between key religious sites.</p>
<p>The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has deployed 436 staff members at the Jeddah Islamic Port to facilitate the smooth arrival of 5,000 pilgrims.</p>
<p>Additionally, Saudi Post (SPL) has introduced refrigerated vehicles to transport medical supplies, reflecting increased attention to health logistics during the Hajj season.</p>
<p>Strict measures are in place to ensure orderly conduct during the pilgrimage.</p>
<p>Saudi authorities have warned of severe penalties for unauthorized pilgrimages, including fines ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 Saudi Riyals, imprisonment, deportation, and a 10-year entry ban.</p>
<p>The Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, emphasized the importance of compliance, revealing that over 11,000 Pakistani pilgrims overstayed their visas during the previous Hajj season.</p>
<p>To address this, Pakistani pilgrims will now receive smart electronic wristbands to help monitor movements and ensure timely departures. Overstaying in the Haram region is now classified as a serious offence and will be met with strict enforcement.</p>
<p><strong>Read more</strong></p>
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
<p><a href="https://english.aaj.tv/news/330413991/pakistan-streamlines-hajj-operations-schedules-first-flight-to-makkah">Pakistan streamlines Hajj operations, schedules first flight to Makkah</a></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
<p><a href="https://english.aaj.tv/news/330413670/pm-shehbaz-sharif-assures-efforts-to-resolve-private-hajj-pilgrims-issue">PM Shehbaz Sharif assures efforts to resolve private Hajj pilgrims issue</a></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="blockquote-level-1">
<p><a href="https://english.aaj.tv/news/330414908/saudi-arabia-issues-paid-leave-guidelines-for-hajj-2025">Saudi Arabia issues paid leave guidelines for Hajj 2025</a></p>
</blockquote>
]]></content:encoded>
      <category>World</category>
      <guid>https://english.aaj.tv/news/330415833</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 09:57:35 +0500</pubDate>
      <author>none@none.com (Web Desk)</author>
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