Riyadh to buy 20 high-speed trains from Spain’s Talgo

Saudi Arabia Railways has ordered 20 high-speed trains from Spain’s Talgo for a rail line connecting the cities of Mecca, Medina and Jeddah.

The is worth €1.33 billion ($1.6 billion), Talgo said in a statement.

The new trains will join the 35 already supplied by the company in 2018.

Each train consists of two power cars (locomotives) and 13 coaches, with a total of 417 seats in two classes.

The acquisition is part of the kingdom’s plans to continue expanding its passenger services to meet growing demand. 

Meanwhile, the operation and maintenance contract for phase II of the 450km Haramain High-Speed Railway project with a Spanish consortium, which includes Talgo, has been extended, the statement said.

Talgo will be responsible for maintaining all trains that make up the expanded fleet until 2033, with the possibility of extending the deal until 2038. 

Further reading:

• Billion-dollar fund created for real estate by Mecca train line
• Saudi railway network to reach 8,000km, says minister
• High-speed rail to connect Riyadh to Doha in two hours

The company operates two maintenance facilities in Saudi Arabia, employing more than 270 people, the company said.

In October Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) announced plans to establish a SAR6 billion ($1.6 billion) real estate fund to develop a mixed-use project based on the transit-orientated development model in Mecca.

Saleh Al Jasser, minister of transport and SAR chairman, said in November 2024 that the kingdom is looking to expand its railway network by around 45 percent to over 8,000kms.

The programme is expected to generate investment opportunities worth SAR15 billion ($4 billion) by 2030, increase domestic goods, services and production in SAR’s operations to 60 percent by 2025, and create more than 3,000 jobs.