Alstom to Help Power Saudi Rail Growth

French railway firm Alstom has extended its partnership with Saudi Railway Company (SAR) through a new deal aimed at bolstering the kingdom’s strategic east-to-west freight corridor.

The five-year technical support and spare part supply agreement (TSSSA) is valued at SAR300 million (about US$80 million), said Alstom, which has been active in Saudi Arabia since the 1950s. In a recent development, Alstom and SAR signed an MoU to develop hydrogen train solutions for Saudi Arabia.

In this latest deal, Alstom will provide SAR with technical assistance, a steady supply of spare parts and tailored staff training programs. Alstom’s digital platform HealthHub will be deployed to digitize maintenance processes and monitor the network’s diesel locomotives in real-time.

The measures would guarantee the “long-term efficiency and reliability” of the trains operating on the east-west corridor, which links the key ports of Dammam and Jubail with the Riyadh dry port in the kingdom’s capital city.

“This agreement is a testament to our shared vision with SAR of advancing Saudi Arabia’s transportation ecosystem in alignment with Vision 2030,” said Mohamed Khalil, managing director of Alstom’s Middle East headquarters.

“By empowering SAR with cutting-edge technologies and knowledge transfer, we are fostering a competitive and sustainable sector while enriching local talent and expertise within the kingdom’s railway industry. This collaboration will provide SAR’s engineers and technicians with invaluable hands-on experience, bolstering their capabilities and solidifying their vital role in the kingdom’s ambitious growth plans.”

Alstom, based in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, boasts more than 150,000 vehicles in commercial service worldwide, including the world’s first hydrogen train, the Coradia iLint.


Alstom is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network, a worldwide group of shippers involved in the engineering, manufacturing and production of project cargo. The next in-person meet-up for BGSN members will be at Breakbulk Middle East on Feb. 10-11 in Dubai.

PHOTO CREDIT: Saudi Railway Company