Riyadh-Jeddah railway line awaiting final financing approvals

Saudi Arabia Railways Seeks Funding for Land Bridge Project Linking East and West

Dubai: Saudi Arabia Railways aims to secure funding for a land bridge project linking the country’s east and west.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF), which drives economic reforms in Saudi Arabia, is the owner of Saudi Arabia Railways.

Currently, the Gulf Coast has a passenger and freight rail line from Riyadh to Dammam, but the Red Sea Coast has no rail connecting the 950 kilometers between Riyadh and Jeddah.

Given its strategic location at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, the rail network is seen as a key component of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to position itself as a global logistics hub.

The government has earmarked billions of dollars for infrastructure projects including ports, railways, aviation and special economic zones.

Initially, the landbridge project will focus on freight transport, with plans to add passenger services after 2030.

Since the majority of the 32 million people who live in the country now travel great distances by flight, passenger rail to Jeddah is not regarded as a priority.

Saudi Arabia Railways has already expanded its freight lines to Kuwait, Qatar, and the Jordanian border. The company is currently expecting the governments of those countries to finish their rail link projects.