Saudi Arabia has ordered 20 new high-speed trains for the Haramain High-Speed Railway, a key rail link that connects Mecca, Jeddah and Medina. The trains will be supplied by Spanish manufacturer Talgo as part of a contract worth about €1.3 billion, which also includes maintenance services.
The new trains are meant to handle the growing number of passengers using the line, especially during the busy Hajj and Umrah seasons. Once the trains are delivered, the railway’s annual capacity is expected to rise to around 30 million passengers.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway is one of the most important transport projects in Saudi Arabia. It links the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina through Jeddah, including the airport area, and allows fast and comfortable travel between the locations. The trains run at speeds of up to 300 km/h, cutting travel time between the cities to a few hours.
Talgo has already supplied 35 trains to the line since 2018. The new order will increase the total fleet to 55 trains once all units are delivered.
Each train will have multiple coaches with seating for more than 400 passengers, including economy and business class, along with space for passengers with reduced mobility.
Officials say the expansion is part of the country’s broader transport plans and its effort to improve services for pilgrims and tourists. The rail line is seen as an important part of Saudi Arabia’s tourism and infrastructure strategy under Vision 2030.
Delivery of the new trains is expected to begin in 2028 and continue until around 2031, after which the expanded fleet will support higher service frequency across the route.
The project highlights Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in modern rail transport to handle rising travel demand across the kingdom.
