Talgo Secures €1.3B Saudi High-Speed Rail Order for 20 Trains

Talgo Secures €1.3 Billion Saudi Arabia High-Speed Rail Contract

On 9 February 2026, Talgo was awarded a €1.3 billion contract by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) to manufacture 20 new high-speed trains for the Haramain High Speed Railway. The agreement, part of the line’s Phase II expansion, also extends Talgo’s maintenance responsibilities for the entire fleet of 55 trainsets until 2033. This award increases Talgo’s total order book to a record level approaching €6 billion.

Contract Scope and Fleet Expansion

The contract was awarded through the Saudi Spanish Train Project Company by the Saudi Ministries of Transportation and Logistics and Finance. It directly addresses capacity expansion on the high-demand corridor connecting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina with the commercial hub of Jeddah. The 20 new trainsets will augment the 35 units Talgo previously supplied in 2018, bringing the total fleet size to 55.

The new trains will have technical specifications equivalent to the existing Talgo 350 fleet. Each trainset is configured with two power cars and 13 passenger coaches, providing 417 seats distributed across two classes. The design incorporates dedicated areas for catering services and facilities for passengers with reduced mobility. A key technical feature is the step-free interior with full platform-level access, which is designed to reduce passenger boarding and alighting times, a critical factor for managing high-density traffic during peak periods.

Strategic Context and Maintenance Agreement

This fleet expansion is an element of Saudi Arabia’s national strategy to develop its passenger rail network and accommodate sustained growth in demand. The Haramain High Speed Railway currently operates more than 100 daily services, a figure that increases to over 140 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage season when the line transports millions of passengers. The addition of 20 trains provides SAR with the necessary capacity to increase service frequency and reliability on one of the Kingdom’s most strategically vital transport corridors.

A central component of the agreement is the extension of Talgo’s maintenance responsibilities. The company will now maintain the full fleet of 55 trains until at least 2033, with an option for SAR to extend the term for an additional five years to 2038. This long-term maintenance structure provides SAR with operational continuity and cost predictability on a critical national infrastructure asset, while securing a stable revenue stream for Talgo for over a decade. The existing fleet has demonstrated strong operational performance since entering service.

Market Impact

The €1.3 billion order lifts Talgo’s order book to approximately €6 billion, a record for the company. This secures production line activity and reinforces the company’s position as a primary supplier of high-speed rail technology in the Middle East. The long-term maintenance component further solidifies its service-based revenue and deepens its operational integration with Saudi Arabia Railways.

The project’s scale and value underscore the continued investment in advanced rail infrastructure within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. For SAR, the standardized fleet simplifies operations, maintenance routines, and spare parts management, creating efficiencies across the network. Verification data from external sources confirmed the contract award but did not provide conflicting or additional technical details.

Next Steps

Manufacturing of the 20 new trainsets will proceed, with integration into the existing Haramain High Speed Railway fleet scheduled to meet growing passenger demand. The expanded maintenance agreement will be implemented across the entire 55-train fleet, ensuring standardized service levels and technical support for the expanded operations.