Saudi Arabia Railways Issues Tender For 10 New Passenger Trains On The Northern Network

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has issued a tender to procure 10 new passenger trains for the Northern Network, aiming to upgrade public transport and improve rail efficiency across the Kingdom, in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the broader goals of Saudi Vision 2030 for sustainable mobility.

SAR CEO Dr. Bashar Al-Malik said expanding the passenger train fleet is a strategic target and an essential stage within the company’s plans to advance passenger rail services, explaining that the new trains will address rising demand and support the national railway system as more residents and visitors travel between major Saudi cities.

According to SAR, the tender covers the full cycle of work, including design, manufacturing and supply of the new passenger trains, along with fleet maintenance services, which is intended to improve operational readiness, protect assets over their life cycle, and align with SAR’s phased programme to modernise and expand passenger fleets across its different rail networks.

The 10 new trains are planned to run on the Northern Network, which stretches around 2,700 kilometres and links key urban centres such as Riyadh, Al-Majmaah, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf and Al-Qurayyat, with additional passenger stations, including Al-Zulfi, scheduled for future expansion phases as network coverage extends.

Dr. Bashar Al-Malik noted that once these trains enter service, the operational capacity of the Northern Network is expected to reach nearly three times its current level, with overall seating capacity exceeding 2.4 million seats each year, strengthening SAR’s role in supporting the continuing growth of intercity passenger transport.

SAR indicated that the current tender forms part of a wider programme that also includes manufacturing 10 new passenger trains for the Eastern Line, with these projects designed to enhance passenger services, raise operational efficiency and improve reliability across the national railway network, which has become an important component of domestic travel.

The company confirmed that the deadline for submitting bids is set in accordance with approved public tender regulations, stressing that all procedures will follow the relevant governance rules, while the combined Northern and Eastern fleet expansions are expected to gradually improve service availability and support the long-term objectives of Saudi Arabia’s transport sector.

With inputs from SPA