Saudi Transport introduced on Sunday that it has awarded the contract to fabricate and preserve 20 new high-speed trains to the Spanish railway firm Talgo for the Haramain Excessive Velocity Railway connecting the cities of Mekkah, Medinah, and Jeddah.
In a press launch, the Spanish firm mentioned that this new order will add €1.3 billion ($1.54 billion) to Talgo’s order guide, bringing it to a report excessive of almost €6 billion.
Keep updated with the most recent information. Comply with KT on WhatsApp Channels
These 20 new trains be a part of the 35 that Talgo already provided to Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) in 2018. This new contract was awarded by the Ministry of Transportation and Logistics and the Ministry of Finance by means of the Saudi Spanish Practice Challenge Firm (SSTPC), the Spanish consortium answerable for Section II of the Haramain Excessive Velocity Railway mission, of which Talgo is a member.
Excessive-speed trains in Saudi
The 20 new trains may have traits equal to these of the 35 beforehand manufactured by Talgo, which the Spanish Consortium has operated in Saudi Arabia since 2018. Every practice consists of two energy automobiles (locomotives) and 13 coaches, with a capability of 417 seats distributed throughout two courses, along with devoted areas for catering and for passengers with lowered mobility.
The acquisition of those 20 new trains is a part of the Kingdom’s plans to proceed increasing its passenger providers and meet rising demand. At the moment, the Saudi operator of the road has a fleet of 35 Talgo 350 trains, able to reaching a most business pace of 300km/h, attaining glorious operational outcomes and buyer satisfaction.
On this regard, Section II of the ‘Haramain Excessive Velocity Railway’ mission, which this shopper had with the Spanish consortium, has been prolonged for the operation and upkeep interval. With this new contract, Talgo will likely be answerable for sustaining all of the trains that can make up the expanded fleet — the 35 current trains and the 20 further ones — till 2033, with the potential of extending the contract till 2038.
Practice options
The 20 new trains may have full platform-level entry and no steps contained in the practice. This enables for quicker passenger motion throughout peak demand and facilitates passenger and baggage motion.
These new trains will improve the present fleet on the road, which operates greater than 100 providers on a typical day with Talgo trains, rising to greater than 140 through the annual Hajj pilgrimage season. In 2025, almost two million passengers had been transported throughout Hajj.
The Haramain Railway line is 450 km lengthy and is constructed and operated to just about the identical requirements because the Spanish high-speed rail community, with a most business pace of 300 km/h and ERTMS Stage 2 signalling. As a part of the contract to keep up the trains, Talgo additionally operates two upkeep services in Saudi Arabia, using greater than 270 individuals.
