Stadler will supply Next Generation Intercity Trains to Saudi Arabia

On 5 February 2024, Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Stadler have signed contracts for the supply and the maintenance of the Next Generation Passenger Trains for the operation on the growing network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With these landmark contracts, SAR is taking the next step towards the VISION 2030 development of their railway operation.

The supply contract consists of a base contract for 10 units with an option of 10 more. The maintenance contract provides full maintenance support and spare parts for a period of 10 years with an option to be extended to additional 10 trainsets for 10 years. The worth of both base contracts is approx. 600 million CHF.

The contract follows an international tender procedure of SAR in 2022, the selection of Stadler as preferred bidder to SAR in 2023 and an extensive negotiation process. This contract is the first one for Stadler in the GCC region. However, with two large other contracts in the MENA region Stadler does have significant design experience for the relevant climatic and ambient conditions. 

The new trainsets will be designed according to latest European and international Standards while being equipped particularly for the climatic and ambient conditions in Saudi Arabia. The units with a length of about 175 m will consist of two powered end cars with diesel-electric power transmission and five intermediate cars, with a capacity of about 320 passengers.

The design of the end cars is derived from the SMILE high-speed trains (referred to as Giruno by SBB), suggesting that the maximum speed could be 200 km/h, similar to the previously supplied SAR‘s CAF trains. Stadler told us that the trains will have a power of 6,000 kW, and deliveries will start from 2028 to around 2029/30.

His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, explained that the purchase of these trains comes in response to the increasing demand for the East Train passenger services, as the new units will contribute to doubling the annual capacity of the East Trains to reach more than 3.8 million passengers annually and provide direct trips from Riyadh to Dammam (express service) to meet the growing demand.

Second photo, from left to right: Peter Spuhler, Executive Chairman of Stadler, Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor, S. E. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services of Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the board of SAR und Dr. Bashar bin Khaled Al-Malik, SAR CEO.