Rail transport in Saudi Arabia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rail transport in Saudi Arabia is managed by Saudi Railway Organization. It provides freight service on three main lines, 1018 km total, which connect Riyadh with Persian Gulf ports of Dammam and Al Jubail. [1] Their passenger trains operate between Riyadh and Dammam. There are plans for extending the network to the Red Sea port of Jeddah and, eventually to the borders of Jordan, Yemen and Israel, and assumingly all the way to Egypt [2].

Contents 1 History 2 Network 3 Expansion project 4 See also 5 Towns served 6 References

[edit] History

The first railway in modern Saudi-Arabia was Hejaz railway, running from the border of Jordan to Medina. This railway opened in 1908, was shut down in 1915. This line was narrow gauge.

Modern Railroads were introduced in Saudi Arabia after World War II, to facilitate transport of goods of Saudi Aramco Petroleum Company from Persian Gulf ports to warehouses in Dhahran. Construction started in October 1947 and the first line was inaugurated on October 20, 1951. Initially, it was run by Aramco, but subsequently transferred to the state. Since 1968, it operates as a public corporation. Several development projects have been completed thereafter - such as extension of the line to Riyadh, construction of several passenger terminals and opening of a dry port in Riyadh. [3]

[edit] Network

Saudi rail network consist of the following main lines:

• Line 1: Dammam - Abqaiq - Hofuf - Riyadh (449.11 km), used by passenger trains.
• Line 2: Riyadh - Hardd - Hofuf (555.951 km), used by freight trains
• Dammam Port Line (12.854 km)

(Technical information on SRO)

[edit] Expansion project

Saudi Railway Organization is planning to enhance the network in the following directions, among others:

• The Saudi Landbridge - construction of a 950 km line from Riyadh to Jeddah and 115 km from Dammam and Jubail, which will connect Persian Gulf with Red Sea
• Line to Mecca and Medina, connected with the network at Jeddah, to provide a safe and comfortable transport for Hajj pilgrims arriving via Jeddah. [4]

[edit] See also

• Rail transport by country
• Saudi Arabia
• Transport in Saudi Arabia

[edit] Towns served

Main article: Railway stations in Saudi Arabia

[edit] References

• Official site of Saudi Railway Organization

v • d • e Rail transport in Asia Afghanistan · Armenia · Azerbaijan1 · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Burma (Myanmar) · Cambodia · China · Cyprus · East Timor1 · Egypt1 · Georgia1 · Hong Kong · India · Indonesia1 · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan1 · Korea (North Korea · South Korea) · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Macau · Malaysia · Maldives · Mongolia · Nepal · Northern Cyprus2 · Oman · Pakistan · People's Republic of China · Palestinian territories3 · Philippines · Qatar · Republic of China · Russia1 · Saudi Arabia · Singapore · Sri Lanka · Syria · Taiwan · Tajikistan · Thailand · Turkey1 · Turkmenistan · United Arab Emirates · Uzbekistan · Vietnam · Yemen1 1 Transcontinental country.  2 Only recognised by Turkey.  3 Not fully independent.