Hegra Station of the Hejaz Railway

History

The Hejaz Railway was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the Ottoman state. It was meant to carry pilgrims from Damascus to Medina. The line reached Medina in 1908 (Arab News, 2006).

Al-Hijr station lies north-west of the Hegra site. It has 16 buildings spread over about 400 metres. There were offices, warehouses, a police post, a hospital, housing for workers and a maintenance workshop (Arab News, 2006).

The station dates from 1325 AH (1907). Damaged during the Arab Revolt (1916-1918), it was restored in the 2000s, then integrated into the “Hegra Station” district (2020-2024). Some of the buildings were later converted. According to the announcement of its opening, The Chedi Hegra hotel occupies historic buildings of the site.

Before the train, this route was already that of the pilgrim caravans coming from Syria. UNESCO notes that the route kept this role until the railway was built.

The station is on the land of al-Hijr. The reminder of the Prophet ﷺ applies here too: pass through it with humility (see the Hegra entry).

What is certain and what is not

• Certain: the Hejaz line reached Medina in 1908.
• Certain: the station has 16 stone buildings over about 400 metres (Arab News, 2006).
• Uncertain: what is open to the public today. To be checked on site or on experiencealula.com.

Sources

1. Arab News, “Move Under Way to Restore Madain Saleh Railway Station”, 22 June 2006. https://www.arabnews.com/node/286628
2. UNESCO, Hegra Archaeological Site, criterion (ii). https://whc.unesco.org/fr/list/1293
3. Hospitality Net, announcement of The Chedi Hegra. https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41011904.html
4. Saudipedia, AlUla Old Town (order of the sites along Route 375, including the station). https://saudipedia.com/en/alula-old-town