Stadler wins CHF300 million Saudi rail contract

Stadler Rail has secured a further CHF300 million order from Saudi Arabian Railways, doubling the fleet covered by its Saudi contract. The Swiss train maker will supply ten additional Intercity trains, taking the specially developed fleet from ten to 20 trains.

Saudi Arabian Railways, known as SAR, exercised an option in the contract signed with Stadler two years ago. That wider agreement was valued at around CHF600 million. The second order gives Stadler a larger production run and confirms that the first Saudi fleet remains central to the operator’s east-west passenger plans.

The trains will connect Riyadh, Hofuf, Abkaik and Dammam, linking the Saudi capital with communities and industrial centres in the country’s east. Commercial passenger services are expected to begin in the second half of 2029.

For Switzerland, the order provides another export win for a manufacturer whose products are built for specialised markets. Production of the new trains will follow directly after the first series, which began in April 2026. Stadler said manufacturing will take place largely at its Swiss factories, with the car bodies for the power cars supplied by its plant in Valencia, Spain.

The Saudi contract places Stadler inside one of the Gulf’s most closely watched rail markets. Saudi Arabia is expanding rail links that connect its capital, eastern industrial zones and major population centres. SAR’s decision to exercise the option shows that the operator wants more capacity on the same corridor and is prepared to extend its relationship with the Swiss supplier.

The order also builds on Stadler’s first Saudi deal, announced in February 2024. That agreement was Stadler’s first order for the Gulf region and carried a potential value of around CHF600 million. The additional ten trains now convert that potential into a larger committed fleet.

The east-west line will serve Riyadh, Hofuf, Abkaik and Dammam. The route passes through a region where passenger rail must work across long distances and severe climatic conditions. Stadler’s trains therefore need to meet Saudi operating requirements from the outset, rather than rely on equipment designed for a temperate European network.

The deal strengthens the Swiss company’s credentials in the Gulf. It also gives Stadler a reference fleet in Saudi Arabia, where future rail projects could depend on proven performance, local operating experience and reliable support.

Saudi heat and sand have shaped the trains’ engineering from the beginning. The Intercity sets will measure around 175 metres and carry approximately 320 passengers. Stadler has designed them for the climatic and operational conditions expected on the Saudi network.

The trains will feature two independent power cars, along with numerous redundant systems. That configuration is intended to support resilience on a long route where a technical failure can create major disruption. Special protection and filtration systems will help shield critical equipment from extreme heat and airborne sand.

The environmental demands are practical and persistent. High temperatures affect cooling, electrical equipment and passenger comfort. Fine sand can enter machinery, reduce filter performance and accelerate wear. A train designed for Saudi Arabia must keep running through those conditions while maintaining a level of reliability suitable for scheduled Intercity services.

The specifications also illustrate how Swiss industrial exports are often adapted rather than simply shipped. Stadler’s Swiss factories will produce most of the new trains, while the Valencia plant will provide the power car bodies. The programme combines Swiss manufacturing with a cross-border supply chain tailored to SAR’s operational requirements.