Saudi Arabia Orders 20 New High-Speed Trains for Haramain Railway to Boost Capacity

Saudi Arabia Orders 20 New High-Speed Trains to Expand Haramain Railway Fleet

RIYADH Saudi Arabia’s national rail operator has signed an agreement to purchase 20 new high-speed trains from Spain’s Talgo SA to expand the fleet of the Haramain High-Speed Railway, the Saudi Gazette reports.

The deal, announced on February 8, 2026, was signed by Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR) under the patronage of Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser, who also chairs SAR, with Spain’s Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility Oscar Puente in attendance.

Boosting Capacity and Service

The new trains are expected to begin delivery by the end of 2028, with full rollout completed by 2031. Once in service, they will operate across the entire Haramain High-Speed Railway network, which links Makkah and Madinah through intermediate stations including Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, and King Abdullah Economic City.

Officials say the expanded fleet will raise the railway’s annual passenger capacity to more than 30 million, providing greater reliability and flexibility to meet growing demand especially during peak Umrah and Hajj seasons.

Each new train will consist of 13 cars with a total seating capacity of 417 passengers, including economy and business class coaches, and dedicated spaces for passengers with reduced mobility.

Strategic Importance

Inaugurated in 2018 by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Haramain High-Speed Railway is among the Kingdom’s most strategic transport projects, significantly reducing travel time between the two holy cities and serving millions of pilgrims and visitors.

Minister Al-Jasser praised the expansion, saying it aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics hub. The additional trains are also expected to enhance connectivity and support the Kingdom’s shift toward more sustainable transport solutions.

Source: saudi Gazette