Printed on
February 9, 2026
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has introduced an thrilling improve to its Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway, one of many nation’s most essential transport corridors. The Spanish railway firm Talgo has been awarded a contract price €1.3 billion ($1.54 billion) to fabricate and keep 20 new high-speed trains for the railway system. These new trains will bolster the fleet and guarantee extra environment friendly, comfy journey for passengers touring between the holy cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah.
The announcement is a big step in increasing the nation’s railway community and enhancing its connectivity, not only for home vacationers but additionally for worldwide vacationers. This undertaking is a part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to reinforce its infrastructure, assist tourism, and make journey throughout the nation sooner and extra handy. With the addition of those new trains, the Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway is about to supply extra frequent and cozy companies to the thousands and thousands of passengers who journey this essential route annually.
The Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway performs a pivotal position in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, particularly with the inflow of tourists to the holy cities. The railway connects Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah, three key locations that entice thousands and thousands of Muslims for non secular pilgrimages like Hajj and Umrah, in addition to leisure vacationers and enterprise vacationers. The brand new trains won’t solely enhance the capability of the system but additionally enhance the general journey expertise for vacationers making their strategy to these essential cities.
The present fleet of Talgo 350 trains already operates over 100 companies a day, which will increase to over 140 throughout the Hajj pilgrimage season. The Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway noticed almost 2 million passengers throughout the 2025 Hajj season, highlighting the numerous position the railway system performs in dealing with the huge motion of individuals.
The enlargement of the fleet with the addition of 20 new trains will enable the railway to accommodate the rising demand from each pilgrims and different vacationers visiting the nation. These high-speed trains provide a fast and cozy method for vacationers to maneuver between the cities, with a most industrial pace of 300 km/h, lowering journey time considerably between Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah.
With the brand new contract, Talgo is about to tackle a key position not simply within the manufacturing of the brand new trains, but additionally within the upkeep of the complete fleet. The Spanish firm will likely be chargeable for sustaining all 35 present trains together with the brand new 20 further trains till 2033, with the potential of extending the contract till 2038.
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Every of the brand new trains will likely be designed with the identical trendy options as the prevailing Talgo 350 fleet, consisting of two energy automobiles (locomotives) and 13 coaches. These trains may have a complete seating capability of 417 seats, distributed throughout two lessons, with devoted areas for catering and passengers with decreased mobility. The trains may also be outfitted with the newest in-flight leisure programs and local weather management, making certain a cushty journey for all passengers.
Along with its prepare manufacturing and upkeep work, Talgo operates two upkeep amenities in Saudi Arabia, using over 270 individuals. This native presence will additional assist the corporate guarantee easy operations and fast turnaround occasions for the fleet.
The Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway isn’t just a mode of transport but additionally an important a part of Saudi Arabia’s tourism infrastructure. With the nation’s aim to draw extra worldwide vacationers, particularly underneath the Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030 plan, enhancing connectivity between Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah will considerably profit vacationers. The railway supplies a sooner and extra comfy different to buses and different types of transport, which might be time-consuming and fewer dependable, particularly throughout busy intervals like Hajj.
Along with pilgrims, the Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway additionally caters to the rising variety of leisure vacationers and enterprise vacationers visiting Saudi Arabia. The trains provide a cushty and time-efficient strategy to discover key locations throughout the nation, from the historic websites of Medina to the cosmopolitan environment of Jeddah, and the holiest website in Islam, Mecca.
The brand new trains may also assist assist the Saudi authorities’s aim to extend home tourism and set up the nation as a serious hub for worldwide vacationers. By enhancing accessibility and offering a dependable transport system, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a world-class journey vacation spot.
As Saudi Arabia continues to develop as a tourism vacation spot, the demand for contemporary, environment friendly transport choices can also be on the rise. The enlargement of the Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway fleet with 20 new high-speed trains will enable the nation to accommodate this rising demand, making certain that vacationers can transfer easily between main cities whereas having fun with the very best ranges of consolation and comfort.
The addition of those trains aligns with the broader technique to enhance tourism infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, making certain that the nation is supplied to deal with future development. By enhancing the expertise for pilgrims and vacationers alike, Saudi Arabia is taking a big step ahead in making a world-class journey vacation spot.
With the introduction of 20 new high-speed trains on the Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway, Saudi Arabia is setting a brand new normal for contemporary rail journey. These trains will provide extra capability, sooner journey occasions, and improved consolation for pilgrims, vacationers, and enterprise vacationers alike. Because the nation continues to spend money on its tourism infrastructure, this enlargement of the Haramain Excessive-Pace Railway is a key growth in making Saudi Arabia a premier vacation spot for worldwide vacationers.
