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(CNN) — High-speed rail service will be available for the first time this year during Hajj, the pilgrimage by Muslims to Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca.
The pilgrimage, which begins Friday and lasts five days, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every Muslim is required to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically and financially able.
The trains travel at 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour) on electrified rails. The technology is designed to handle temperatures up to 50°C (122°F), Saudi Arabia’s maximum temperature, according to the HHR website.
There are 35 trains, each with 13 cars and 417 seats in two classes — business and economy.
The high-speed rail line has a capacity of 60 million passengers a year.
CNN’s Jeffrey Kopp contributed to this report.
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