Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Stadler have signed contracts to supply and maintain next-generation passenger trains for operation on the rail network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
With these landmark contracts, SAR is taking the next step towards the development of VISION 2030 in railway operations. For Stadler, these are the first contracts in one of the fastest growing rail markets, the GCC region.
The total contract volume is around CHF 600 million.
The signing was attended by Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the SAR Board of Directors, as well as Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, underlining the strategic importance of this cooperation for the bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.
Stadler to deliver trains to Saudi Arabia
The new train sets will be designed in accordance with the latest European and international standards, while being specially equipped for the climatic and environmental conditions in Saudi Arabia. They will be approximately 175 metres long, self-propelled with two independent diesel-electric locomotives, meeting the latest European Stage V emission standards, and will have a capacity of approximately 320 passengers. The new trains will take train travel in the kingdom to a new level in terms of passenger comfort, travel experience and reliability. They will be ready to operate on SAR’s growing rail network across the country and will connect the Kingdom’s growing cities.
The supply contract consists of a basic contract for ten trains, with an option for a further ten. The maintenance contract provides full maintenance and spares support for ten years, with an option to extend for a further ten trainsets for ten years.
The contract follows an international SAR tender process in 2022, the selection of Stadler as SAR’s preferred bidder in 2023 and an extensive negotiation process. However, with two other large contracts in the MENA region, Stadler has significant design experience for relevant climatic and environmental conditions, the statement said.
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