{"id":151710,"date":"2024-11-25T19:58:22","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T09:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=58107"},"modified":"2024-11-25T19:58:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T09:58:22","slug":"saudi-arabia-unveils-ambitious-rail-plans-for-the-coming-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=151710","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia unveils ambitious rail plans for the coming years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saudi Arabia is not sitting still when it comes to developing its rail network. In the coming years, it wants to build an additional 2,500 kilometres of railways, and ultimately exceed a total length of 8,000 kilometres. It will get technical assistance from Alstom in making the country\u2019s ambitions a reality.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>“Under the vision and support of our wise leadership, the Kingdom is set to experience unprecedented growth in its rail network, expanding to over 8,000 kilometers in the coming years\u201d, the country\u2019s transport minister said. \u201cThis expansion will further solidify Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics hub.\u201d<\/p>\n

At a rail-related event, the minister highlighted Saudi Arabia\u2019s Haramain High-Speed Railway, which connects Mecca and Medina. The railway has managed to take no less than one million trucks off the road during the past year, according to the minister.<\/p>\n

Local industry, international assistance<\/h2>\n

The minister also emphasised the country\u2019s ambitions to create a local rail industry, reducing Saudi Arabia\u2019s reliance on foreign enterprises for its rail logistics. Nevertheless, the country recently signed a cooperation agreement with French Alstom for technical rail support, the supply of spare parts and staff training. Alstom was already involved in aid to Saudi Arabia, but now the two parties have extended their partnership.<\/p>\n

Alstom will now be assisting Saudi Arabia for five more years, in a deal valued at approximately 80 million dollars. The partnership focuses primarily on developing the east-west corridor, which connects the capital city Riyadh\u2019s dry port with the Dammam and Jubail seaports.<\/p>\n