Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has exercised the option included in the contract signed in 2024 and ordered ten additional intercity trains from Stadler. This doubles the fleet of vehicles specially developed for Saudi Arabia to 20 train sets.
The existing maintenance agreement will also be extended to cover the additional vehicles. The contract value exceeds 300 million Swiss francs ($360 million). The trains will be built in Switzerland.
The order come following a finance agreement that SAR had signed with the Swiss group at InnoTrans, the world’s largest rail industry trade fair, held in Berlin last month (September).
The contract demonstrates the confidence of SAR in Stadler’s tailor-made solution.
The new intercity trains were developed jointly by Stadler and SAR to meet the climatic and operational requirements of Saudi Arabia. Extreme heat, sand, and demanding expectations regarding availability and passenger comfort have shaped the vehicle concept.
The 175-m-long trains feature two independent power cars and numerous redundant systems. Special protection and filtration systems help ensure reliable operation even under challenging environmental conditions. The trains can accommodate around 320 passengers and meet the highest international standards.
These trains will be manufactured primarily at Stadler’s facilities in Switzerland, with the car bodies for the power cars to be produced at Stadler’s facility in Valencia, Spain.
"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," remarked Lucius Gerig, the Executive Vice President Division Switzerland and Member of the Group Executive Board at Stadler.
"This is part of our strategic plans at SAR to develop and expand our fleet of passenger trains with the latest technologies, in order to enhance our operational readiness, improve service levels for our customers, and keep pace with the rapid growth in demand for train transport services, in support of the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics and Saudi Vision 2030," he noted.
"The fact that our customer is already doubling the fleet at this stage underlines the strength of our partnership and makes us proud," he added.-TradeArabia News Service