Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) as exercised an option included in a contract signed in 2024 to order an additional ten intercity trains from Stadler.

The order will double the fleet of vehicles specifically developed for Saudi Arabia from ten to a total of twenty train sets, with all existing maintenance agreements now set to be extended to cover the additional vehicles.

An artist rendering of trains for Saudi Arabia

© Stadler

Valued at over 300 million CHF; the contract will see all of the new trains built in Switzerland.

This order follows a previous financing agreement signed by SAR during InnoTrans 2026, and aims to demonstrate the operator’s confidence in Stadler’s products.

Developed jointly by Stadler and SAR; the new trainsets will be specifically manufactured to meet the climatic and operational requirements of Saudi Arabia and its extreme heat, sand and generally demanding conditions. Each will measure in at roughly 175-metres in length, and feature two independent power cars, as well as numerous redundant systems.

Special protection and filtration systems will seek to ensure reliable operation under challenging environmental conditions, and each train will be capable of accommodating around 320 passengers whilst striving to meet high international standards.

Lucius Gerig, Executive Vice President Division Switzerland and Member of the Group Executive Board, said:

The exercise of this option is a great honour for us and a strong sign of trust. Together with SAR, we have developed a tailor-made solution that meets the highest standards in both technology and passenger comfort. The fact that our customer is already doubling the fleet at this stage underlines the strength of our partnership and makes us proud.

The trains, which will feature different comfort classes, luggage areas and other amenities, will enter service on SAR’s East-West line, and will connect the regions of Riyadh, Hofuf, Abqaiq and Dammam.

With all additional vehicles set to be produced primarily at Stadler’s facilities in Switzerland, the car bodies for the power cars will be manufactured at the company’s plant in Valencia, Spain. Production will commence directly following the first series, which entered production in April 2026.

Commercial passenger service is expected to begin in the second half 2029, and the train will be presented to the public during InnoTrans 2028.

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