Talgo secures Saudi rail deal

22 March 2015

Trains will be used on Riyadh-Dammam line

  • Contract worth $200m
  • Spanish firm to supply six trains
  • Diesel-electric traction trains will help cut travelling time between Riyadh and Dammam

Spain’s Talgo has been awarded a $200m contract to supply six trains to Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) for use on the 480-kilometre-long rail link connecting Riyadh with Dammam.

The new diesel-electric traction trains will help cut the travelling time between Riyadh and Dammam to three hours down from four, with design speeds of 200 kilometres an hour (km/h).

The trains’ sealing systems have also been upgraded to block out the sand and heat so it can cope with travelling though atmospheric temperatures that can exceed 55 degrees Celsius. There will also be enhanced protection for its windows and other external areas to counter the effects of abrasion from sand and dust.

Talgo is part of the largely Spanish consortium led by the local Al-Shoula Group that signed the $7.9bn contract for phase two of the Haramain High Speed Rail Network, which will link the cities of Medina, Jeddah and Mecca. It will be 450km long, with five stations (Central Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International airport in Jeddah, Mecca, Medina and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh) along its route.

Stay informed with the latest in the Middle East
Download the MEED app today, available on Apple and Android devices

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.