SAR Expands Towards 2.4M Annual Seats With 10-Trainset Tender

SAR launched a tender for 10 passenger trainsets to expand its 2,700 km Northern Network, targeting 2.4 million annual seats. Submissions due May 11, 2026.

SAR Expands Towards 2.4M Annual Seats With 10-Trainset Tender
January 22, 2026 5:39 am | Last Update: March 12, 2026 8:05 pm
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The Saudi Arabian Railway Company (SAR) has initiated a public tender for the procurement of 10 passenger trainsets. The scope of the contract covers the design, manufacture, supply, and long-term maintenance of the new rolling stock. Submissions from manufacturers for this tender are due by May 11, 2026.

This fleet expansion is intended for operation on the 2,700 km Northern Network, which connects Riyadh with cities such as Hail and Al-Jouf. The stated objective of the acquisition is to increase annual passenger capacity to more than 2.4 million seats. This aligns with the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy under the framework of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Northern Network serves regions targeted for industrial development, including mining operations managed by state-controlled firms like Ma’aden. In a separate procurement for its Eastern Line, SAR awarded a contract to Stadler in February 2024. That agreement was valued at approximately EUR 648 million for units specified at 175 meters in length with a capacity of 320 passengers.