Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s rail transport sector recorded a 335 percent year-on-year surge in passengers to 39 million in the third quarter of 2025, fueled by the full launch of the Riyadh Metro, official data showed.

The metro system handled 25.2 million passengers during the quarter, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing figures from the Transport General Authority. The Kingdom’s rail network carried 42.7 million passengers in 2024, a 41 percent increase from the previous year.

The growth aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to raise transport’s contribution to gross domestic product to 10 percent by 2030 from 6 percent now.

“As for trains inside cities, the authority’s statistics showed that more than 36.3 million passengers used trains within cities. Riyadh Metro topped the list with over 25.2 million passengers, followed by the Automated People Mover at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with more than 10.2 million passengers, and the Automated People Mover at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh with over 967,000 passengers,” the SPA report stated.

Intercity rail services carried over 2.7 million passengers, led by the Haramain High-speed Railway with 2.07 million travelers. The North Train served 251,000 passengers, while the East Train handled 378,000, reflecting continued strong demand for long-distance travel.

“The authority also noted that more than 4.09 million tons of cargo and over 227,000 containers were transported via railways, underscoring the vital role trains play in supporting the Saudi economy and boosting supply chains, particularly in the industrial and mining sectors,” according to SPA.

The data was released as Riyadh hosts the Saudi International Railways Exhibition and Conference 2025.

During the event, Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh Al-Jasser, who also chairs the Saudi Railways Co., reviewed investment opportunities and major rail projects underway across the Kingdom.

He said modern railway transport has become a key driver of development and a vital contributor to the national economy.

Al-Jasser added that the sector supports trade and mining, enhances sustainable transport options, strengthens logistics and mobility, and helps improve quality of life while advancing environmental goals, preserving road infrastructure, and improving traffic safety.