26 November 2004
Saudi Arabian News Digest
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Saudi Arabia's railway operator Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) transported 58,000 passengers during the 2004 Eid al-Fitr holidays, a 49 pct year-on-year increase, it was reported on November 22, 2004.

In order to meet the increased demand, SRO put into operation additional carriages, according to Khalid Jubran al-Qahatani, director of SRO's passenger services division.

SRO operates a railroad between the eastern commercial centre of Dammam and the capital Riyadh, in the central part of the country. SRO, established in 1976 under the name Saudi Arabian Railway Corporation, reported a revenue of 194.8 mln Saudi riyals ($51.9 mln/39 mln euro) for 2003, up from 164.7 mln riyals ($43.9 mln/33 mln euro) for 2002.

(Editor's note: The Eid al-Fitr holidays mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and its beginning and end depend on the sighting of the moon. The 2004 Ramadan started on October 15 and ended on November 13.)

www.al-jazirah.com.sa

Source: Al-Jazirah (JD/LB/TD)