Riyadh | BETH
January 17, 2026 (28 Rajab 1447 AH)

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has announced the launch of a tender to design, manufacture, supply, and maintain 10 new passenger trains for the Northern Railway Network, as part of its efforts to enhance rail transport services and increase operational capacity in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030.

SAR said the tender includes the full lifecycle scope of the new trains, covering design, manufacturing, delivery, and fleet maintenance services to ensure long-term asset sustainability and operational readiness. The deadline for bid submissions is May 11, 2026, in accordance with approved procurement regulations.

SAR CEO Dr. Bashar bin Khalid Al-Malik said expanding the passenger fleet is a strategic priority and a key step in the company’s plans to develop passenger transport services, noting that the new trains will help meet growing demand by nearly tripling the Northern Network’s current capacity to more than 2.4 million seats annually.

The Northern Railway Network spans approximately 2,700 kilometers, connecting major cities including Riyadh, Al-Majma’ah, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf, and Al-Qurayyat, with plans to add new stations in the coming years, including Zulfi Station.

The tender forms part of SAR’s phased and continuous modernization strategy for its passenger fleet across all networks. The company is currently manufacturing 10 new passenger trains for the Eastern Line, as part of broader efforts to improve operational efficiency and enhance service reliability across the national railway network.