Stadler has been contracted to supply 10 next-generation intercity passenger trains to Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR).
This contract, valued at approximately 600 million CHF (642 million EUR), includes 10 years of maintenance for the new rolling stock, alongside the option for SAR to order an additional 10 units in the future.
The order is part of SAR’s VISION 2030 development for Saudi Arabia’s growing railway network. It also marks the first time that Stadler has received an order from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
“Today we are honoured to be awarded with this prestigious contract from one of the fastest growing railway companies in the world. We are very happy to be trusted with the development and delivery of SAR's next-generation passenger trains and will do our utmost to meet the high expectations of SAR and the passengers in the Kingdom. It is an honour to be part of Saudi Arabia's development towards sustainable and ecological passenger transportation. At the same time this is a strategic milestone for Stadler to enter into the railway market in the GCC region, a market that is expected to be outperforming other railway markets in terms of travel experience and passenger growth.”
The new trains will meet the latest European and International Standards, while also being designed for the specific climate of Saudi Arabia. They will be approximately 175 metres long and will be self-propelled with two independent diesel-electric power heads.
Each train will be able to carry around 320 passengers. Once in operation, they will double the capacity of the East Train service between Riyadh and Dammam to accommodate over 3.8 million passengers.
“Today we are experiencing a comprehensive development and a sustainable strategic transformation in the railway sector, as these modern trains represent an effective tool for improving services provided to the residents and visitors of the Kingdom. The new trains will serve the entire operational scope of the East Railway network by increasing seat capacity, the number of daily trips, and the annual capacity of the network, as these trains will cover the stations of Riyadh, Hofuf, Abqaiq and Dammam.”
