Al Ula and Mada’in Saleh, the former Hegra, were connected via two smaller railway stations to the historic Hejaz Railway Line, which ran between Damascus in Syria and Medina and was intended to become one of the most important railway lines of the Ottoman Empire. The history and the “fate” of the Hejaz Railway are not only exciting for railway enthusiasts. The main line was built in the first decade of the 20th century. The main reason given for its construction was to facilitate pilgrimages to the holy sites of the Muslims in Mecca and Medina, so that the arduous, sweaty overland routes by camel would be a thing of the past. However, it would not be wrong to assume that the railway line was also intended to facilitate and secure Ottoman control over its provinces in the empire. The construction of the main line, which was largely planned and managed by German engineers and led through some of the most difficult terrain, was completed after just eight years and was around 1,320 kilometres (820 mi) long. It ran from Damascus southwards, crossing what was then Transjordan via north-west Arabia inland, initially via Mada’in Saleh and a further 20 km southwards via Al Ula to Medina.
After Bedouin attacks and a rebellion of the Arabs of the Hejaz, which was supported by the British, the line was so badly damaged during World War I that it abandoned then – and has never been rebuilt.
