Saudi Rail Network Records 45 Million Passengers and Four Million Tonnes of Freight in Q1
Riyadh: The Transport General Authority (TGA) of Saudi Arabia has reported that the Kingdom's rail network successfully carried over 45 million passengers and more than 4 million tonnes of freight during the first quarter of 2026.
In a detailed report from the TGA, it was noted that the urban rail sector alone recorded 42 million passengers in Q1.
Notably, the Riyadh Metro saw an impressive 31 million passengers, highlighting the increasing reliance on rail-based mobility within urban areas.
The automated transport system at King Abdulaziz Airport catered to around 10 million passengers, while Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University's system handled 621,000 passengers during this period.The TGA emphasized that these figures reflect a growing demand for rail services, which not only help alleviate urban congestion but also contribute significantly to quality of life improvements and support sustainable development.
The Eastern Railway network, which connects Riyadh with the Eastern Province, saw more than 349,000 passengers, while the Northern Railway network operated from Riyadh towards Al-Haditha near the Jordanian border, carrying around 218,000 passengers.In terms of freight transport, the rail network successfully moved over 4 million tonnes of minerals and cargo.
The Northern Railway network handled 3 million tonnes, followed by the Eastern Railway network which transported more than 448,000 tonnes along with 197,000 standard containers.
These numbers underscore the crucial role that rail freight plays in enhancing supply chain efficiency and reinforcing logistics connectivity between ports and economic zones.Comparatively, during the first three months of 2025, Saudi Arabia's rail network had carried over 35 million passengers, indicating a notable upward trend.
Intercity rail services saw significant growth with more than 3.4 million passengers traveling between cities in Q1.
Notably, the Riyadh Metro saw an impressive 31 million passengers, highlighting the increasing reliance on rail-based mobility within urban areas.
The automated transport system at King Abdulaziz Airport catered to around 10 million passengers, while Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University's system handled 621,000 passengers during this period.The TGA emphasized that these figures reflect a growing demand for rail services, which not only help alleviate urban congestion but also contribute significantly to quality of life improvements and support sustainable development.
The Eastern Railway network, which connects Riyadh with the Eastern Province, saw more than 349,000 passengers, while the Northern Railway network operated from Riyadh towards Al-Haditha near the Jordanian border, carrying around 218,000 passengers.In terms of freight transport, the rail network successfully moved over 4 million tonnes of minerals and cargo.
The Northern Railway network handled 3 million tonnes, followed by the Eastern Railway network which transported more than 448,000 tonnes along with 197,000 standard containers.
These numbers underscore the crucial role that rail freight plays in enhancing supply chain efficiency and reinforcing logistics connectivity between ports and economic zones.Comparatively, during the first three months of 2025, Saudi Arabia's rail network had carried over 35 million passengers, indicating a notable upward trend.
Intercity rail services saw significant growth with more than 3.4 million passengers traveling between cities in Q1.
