Rail transport in Saudi Arabia
Rail transport in Saudi Arabia is a growing sector of the country's transportation system, encompassing intercity, metro, and freight rail networks.
History
The first railway in the Arabian Peninsula was the Hejaz railway, constructed by the Ottoman Empire from Damascus to Medina. This Narrow-gauge railway opened in 1908 but was closed in 1920 due to the Arab Revolt.Modern railways were introduced in Saudi Arabia after World War II to transport goods for the Arabian American Oil Company, or Aramco, from ports on the Persian Gulf coast to warehouses in Dhahran. Construction began in September 1947, and the first line was inaugurated on 20 October 1951. Subsequent development projects included extending the line to Riyadh, building several passenger terminals, and opening a dry port in Riyadh.
The Saudi Railways Organization was merged with the Saudi Railway Company to form the new Saudi Arabia Railways on 1 April 2021.
National rail network
Passenger Network
;West Train;North Train
;East Train
Freight Network
;North–South railway;Dammam–Riyadh railway
;Saudi Landbridge Project
International rail links
- Saudi–Qatar High Speed Railway – A proposed high-speed railway connecting Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
- Gulf Railway – A proposed network linking the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Metro systems
- Riyadh Metro – A rapid transit system serving the capital city, Riyadh.
- Mecca Metro – A seasonal metro system primarily serving pilgrims during the Hajj.
- Jeddah Metro – A proposed metro network intended to serve Jeddah.
- Medina Metro – A proposed metro network intended to serve Medina.
- Dammam Metro – A proposed metro system planned for the Dammam metropolitan area.