The Haramain High Speed Rail is one of the most comfortable ways to travel between Makkah and Madinah, but pilgrims booking it for the first time often get stuck on a simpler question than they expect: how do you actually buy a ticket. This guide walks through the booking mechanics themselves, ticket classes, how far in advance to book, and where the stations are, so you can decide with confidence whether the train or a private taxi is the better fit for your trip.
Reviewed planning guidance. Fares, schedules and app features change periodically. Always confirm current pricing, timetables and booking channels directly with SAR (Saudi Arabia Railways) before you travel.
Who operates the Haramain High Speed Rail
The Haramain line is operated by SAR, Saudi Arabia’s national railway operator, which also runs the Mashair Train serving the Hajj sites around Makkah. Because SAR is the official operator, its own website and app are the most reliable places to book, rather than third-party resellers, which can carry additional fees or outdated schedule information.
How to actually buy a ticket
Booking through the app
SAR offers a dedicated booking app for the Haramain Express, which allows passengers to search journeys, select seats, and pay directly on a smartphone. For UK-based pilgrims booking before they fly, this is usually the most convenient route, since it means your ticket is confirmed before you land in Saudi Arabia rather than something to sort out once you arrive.
Booking online
Tickets are also fully bookable through SAR’s website, which mirrors the app’s functionality for passengers who prefer booking on a laptop or need to manage a larger group booking where seat allocation across several passengers is easier to review on a bigger screen.
Booking at the station
Station counters remain available for passengers who prefer to book in person, or who need to adjust an existing booking, though relying on this as your only option is riskier during busy periods when trains can sell out, particularly around Ramadan and the weeks surrounding Hajj.
Ticket classes explained
SAR sells Haramain tickets across a small number of classes, and choosing the right one is largely a question of budget against comfort, since the journey time itself does not change between classes.
Economy
Economy is the standard class most pilgrims travel in, offering comfortable seating for the journey at the lowest fare point. For a straightforward Makkah to Madinah trip without heavy luggage or specific comfort needs, Economy is generally sufficient.
Business
Business class offers additional comfort and more spacious seating at a higher fare, and tends to suit pilgrims who want a calmer, less crowded carriage, particularly on trains running during peak travel weeks when Economy carriages are fuller.
Private cabin options
SAR also offers a private cabin style option on some services, aimed at families or small groups wanting a separate, more private space rather than open seating. This is worth considering for families travelling with young children who may need more room to settle during the journey.
Add-ons at booking
When booking, SAR allows passengers to add extras such as baggage allowance beyond the standard limit, meals, and lounge access at the station. Reviewing these options at the time of booking, rather than assuming they will be available on the day, avoids disappointment if a service is fully allocated.
How far in advance to book
Because the Haramain line is heavily used by pilgrims, especially during Ramadan, the weeks around Hajj, and school holiday periods when UK and European travellers cluster their trips, popular departure times can sell out well ahead of the travel date. Booking as soon as your itinerary dates are fixed, rather than waiting until you land in Saudi Arabia, is the safest approach if you have a specific departure time in mind. Outside these peak periods, more flexibility exists closer to travel, but early booking still tends to give better seat choice and, on some fare types, better pricing.
Station locations
The Haramain line connects Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and King Abdulaziz International Airport, with each city’s station located outside the historic centre rather than immediately adjacent to the Haram areas. This is the detail that most affects your overall journey time and is where the comparison with a private taxi actually starts to matter.
Why the station location matters for your total journey time
A train journey between Makkah and Madinah itself is fast, but your door-to-door time also includes getting from your hotel to the departure station, and then from the arrival station to your hotel at the other end. Neither of these legs is covered by your train ticket, so they need to be planned and, in most cases, booked separately as ground transport.
Booking mechanics compared with booking a private taxi
The core difference between booking the train and booking a private taxi is what a single booking actually covers. A Haramain ticket covers only the station-to-station leg and is bought through SAR’s own app, website or a station counter, with fixed departure times you need to work your day around. A private taxi booking covers the entire door-to-door journey in one transaction, at a time you choose rather than a fixed timetable, and does not require a separate first and last mile arrangement at either end.
When the train’s booking process suits your trip
If your schedule is flexible around a fixed departure time, and you are comfortable arranging separate transport to and from each station, the train’s booking process is straightforward and the fare is often lower than a private transfer for the intercity leg alone.
When a private taxi’s booking process suits your trip
If you are travelling with a group, carrying significant luggage, travelling with young children or elderly relatives, or simply want one booking to cover the whole journey without coordinating a station transfer at both ends, a private taxi’s single-booking simplicity is often worth more than the train’s per-leg cost saving.
Managing a group or family booking
Booking multiple seats together
When booking for a family or group, the app and website both allow you to select multiple passengers within the same booking, but seat allocation together is not always automatic, particularly on busier services. Reviewing the seat map before confirming payment, rather than assuming the system will keep your group together, is worth the extra minute it takes.
Paying and confirming your booking
Both the app and the website accept standard card payment, and a confirmed booking generates a ticket that can be shown digitally at the station rather than needing to be printed, which is useful for pilgrims travelling light. Keep a copy of your booking reference somewhere separate from your phone as well, in case you need it at a station counter for any reason.
What to check before you rely on the train for a tight schedule
Because the Haramain service runs to a fixed timetable rather than on demand, it suits journeys where you can build your day around a set departure time. If your itinerary has a tight connection at either end, for example a flight later the same day or a hotel check-in deadline, confirm the specific departure and arrival times for your chosen service against your other plans before booking, rather than assuming there will be a convenient train close to when you need one. Peak periods in particular can mean the most convenient departure times sell out first, leaving only earlier or later options by the time you book.
Making the most of your ticket
Once booked, arriving at the station with a reasonable buffer before departure, particularly during busy periods when security and boarding can take longer, helps the whole booking process feel as smooth as the journey itself. Combined with a private transfer booked separately for the first and last mile, a Haramain ticket booked properly in advance is one of the most reliable ways to move between Makkah and Madinah on a fixed schedule.
Related guides
- Makkah to Madinah: Haramain Train vs Private Taxi Compared
- Haramain Train Station to Your Hotel: Booking the First and Last Mile
- Makkah to Madinah Taxi Guide: Distance, Timing and Rest Planning