Saudi Arabia operates an expanding rail network including high-speed passenger services (Haramain Railway), conventional lines, and new metro systems in major cities, with significant development under Vision 2030.
Network Overview
| Parameter | Statistics | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Track Length | 5,500 km | Active/Under construction |
| High-Speed Lines | 453 km | Haramain Railway |
| Conventional Lines | 2,750 km | North-South, East-West |
| Urban Metro | 2,297 km | Riyadh, Mecca, others |
| Track Gauge | 1,435 mm | Standard gauge |
Major Systems
Main Lines
| Route | Length (km) | Speed (km/h) | Status | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haramain Railway | 453 | 300 | Operational | High-speed |
| North-South Railway | 2,750 | 160 | Active | Mixed traffic |
| East-West Line | 1,392 | 160 | Active | Mixed traffic |
| GCC Railway* | 2,177 | 200 | Planned | Regional |
*Under development
Urban Metro Systems
| City | Lines | Length (km) | Stations | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | 6 | 176 | 85 | Construction |
| Mecca | 4 | 114 | 88 | Planning |
| Jeddah | 4 | 149 | 72 | Planning |
| Medina | 3 | 95 | 63 | Planning |
Technical Parameters
Track Infrastructure
| Parameter | High-Speed | Conventional | Urban |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Gauge | 1,435mm | 1,435mm | 1,435mm |
| Power Supply | 25kV AC | Diesel/25kV AC | 750V DC |
| Max Axle Load | 17t | 32.5t | 17t |
| Signaling | ETCS L2 | ETCS L1/2 | CBTC |
Rolling Stock
Passenger Fleet
| Type | Quantity | Manufacturer | Speed (km/h) | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talgo 350 | 35 sets | Talgo | 300 | Haramain |
| Push-Pull Sets | 25 | CAF | 160 | Conventional |
| Metro Trains | 190 | Various | 90 | Urban |
| Regional Trains | 30 | Various | 160 | Mixed |
Freight Fleet
| Type | Quantity | Status | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Locomotives | 40 | Active | Main lines |
| Diesel Locomotives | 120 | Active | Heavy haul |
| Freight Wagons | 3,000+ | Various | Mixed cargo |
Operations
Passenger Services
| Service | Daily Trains | Annual Passengers | Punctuality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haramain | 30 | 60M | 95% |
| Conventional | 24 | 4M | 90% |
| Metro (Projected) | 1,200+ | 3.6M daily | – |
Freight Traffic
| Commodity | Annual Volume (M tonnes) | Share | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minerals | 15 | 40% | Growing |
| Containers | 8 | 22% | Growing |
| Industrial | 7 | 19% | Stable |
| Agricultural | 7 | 19% | Growing |
Infrastructure Development
Current Projects (2025-2027)
| Project | Budget (USD B) | Status | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh Metro | 23 | Final phase | 2026 |
| Land Bridge | 7 | Planning | 2027 |
| GCC Railway | 15 | Planning | 2027 |
Future Plans (2027-2030)
| Project | Estimated Cost (USD B) | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Speed Network | 25 | Planning | Multiple corridors |
| Urban Systems | 40 | Various | Multiple cities |
| Freight Expansion | 10 | Concept | Capacity increase |
Environmental Initiatives
Sustainability Goals
| Initiative | Target | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Power | 50% usage | 2030 | Planning |
| Energy Efficiency | +40% | 2028 | Active |
| Carbon Reduction | -30% | 2030 | In progress |
Special Features
Desert Operations
| Challenge | Solution | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Sand Protection | Special design | Network-wide |
| Temperature Control | Advanced cooling | All systems |
| Water Management | Conservation systems | All facilities |
Smart Solutions
| Technology | Implementation | Coverage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Ticketing | Network-wide | 100% | Active |
| Real-time Info | All services | 100% | Operating |
| Predictive Maintenance | Main lines | 80% | Expanding |
