_Arabia_
Trusted Member
Very unfortunate incident. I have travelled by train in Spain on quite a few occasions and it was mostly a very good and painless experience.
Not sure if we (KSA) should worry as some of our main train lines (Haramain High-Speed Railway that links Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah) is mostly Spanish in origin.
Built and operated by a Saudi Arabian-Spanish consortium (Al Shoula Group) where the main stakeholders and key entities are Spanish Renfe, ADIF and Talgo.
Spanish CAF have also supplied diesel trainsets to other regional trains in KSA.
So far from what I recall and I am aware of we have never had a single train accident or collision in KSA.
Great video from KSA from this high-speed train (first in the Middle East of its kind - 300 km/h)
This deal also cost (among other scandals) the political life of Juan Carlos I (father of the current Spanish king), lol.
www.bbc.com
In KSA it is very common and normal culturally that heads of state (especially considering the world famous Arabian hospitality and moral and ethical code) that at times very lavish gifts are given to other friendly heads of state etc. In their local countries (in particular in the West) they will afterwards be accused of corruption but such practices have always occurred in the world and continue. It is all about negotiations, they were not given for free to the Spanish King, in return KSA gained political influence and favorable military deals and other deals. It is just that the West (nowadays) prefers everything to be done by the book and in public. Head of states cannot even receive private gifts anymore whether monarchs or presidents/politicians. They have to pay taxation (lol) or decline.
Ironically Imran Khan (since we are on a Pakistani forum) was sentenced for corruption in Pakistan because he received some lavish gifts (him and his wife) from King Salman or MbS.
www.bbc.com
Not sure if we (KSA) should worry as some of our main train lines (Haramain High-Speed Railway that links Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah) is mostly Spanish in origin.
Built and operated by a Saudi Arabian-Spanish consortium (Al Shoula Group) where the main stakeholders and key entities are Spanish Renfe, ADIF and Talgo.
Spanish CAF have also supplied diesel trainsets to other regional trains in KSA.
So far from what I recall and I am aware of we have never had a single train accident or collision in KSA.
Great video from KSA from this high-speed train (first in the Middle East of its kind - 300 km/h)
This deal also cost (among other scandals) the political life of Juan Carlos I (father of the current Spanish king), lol.
Spain ex-king Juan Carlos probed over Saudi rail deal
A Supreme Court inquiry aims to find out if the king received any undeclared payments.
www.bbc.com
In KSA it is very common and normal culturally that heads of state (especially considering the world famous Arabian hospitality and moral and ethical code) that at times very lavish gifts are given to other friendly heads of state etc. In their local countries (in particular in the West) they will afterwards be accused of corruption but such practices have always occurred in the world and continue. It is all about negotiations, they were not given for free to the Spanish King, in return KSA gained political influence and favorable military deals and other deals. It is just that the West (nowadays) prefers everything to be done by the book and in public. Head of states cannot even receive private gifts anymore whether monarchs or presidents/politicians. They have to pay taxation (lol) or decline.
Ironically Imran Khan (since we are on a Pakistani forum) was sentenced for corruption in Pakistan because he received some lavish gifts (him and his wife) from King Salman or MbS.
Imran Khan and wife sentenced for state gift fraud
Pakistan's former PM, who is already serving time in prison, plans to challenge the verdict.
www.bbc.com
