Saudi Arabia’s capital city is gearing up for a mega railway project that will streamline transportation and boost connectivity across Riyadh. The Riyadh Rail Link is designed to connect the north of the capital to the south.
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has called contractors to prequalify for the project, which aims to construct a 35-kilometer double-track corridor, reported MEED. This corridor will establish a link between the North-South railway and the Eastern railway.
The Riyadh Rail Link is part of the Saudi Landbridge railway program – one of Saudi Arabia’s largest infrastructure projects, with a value estimated at $7 billion. With plans to build more than 1,500 kilometers of new track, the Landbridge project aims to extend new railway lines across the Kingdom, connecting its coasts, ports and industrial hubs.
This involves establishing direct travel between Riyadh and Jeddah through a 900-kilometer line to King Abdullah Port. It also includes an upgrade for the Riyadh-Dammam corridor for more streamlined trips, in addition to a 172-kilometer line from King Abdullah Port to Yanbu Industrial City.
The Riyadh Rail Link will support the Riyadh Metro project, facilitating movement across the capital city for residents and visitors and creating a more sustainable travel experience, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
While no official date has been set for inaugurating the project, the Riyadh Rail Link is expected to be part of Saudi Arabia’s preparations for expanding capacity and enhancing connectivity ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2034, during which the Kingdom will receive a large number of visitors and host a wide array of events.
