Saudi Arabia’s North-South rail to start service Feb. 26

Saudi Railway Co. (SAR) will begin services on the North-South Railway Line between Riyadh and Al Majma’ah on Sunday, Feb. 26, Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, transport minister and SAR’s chairman, told the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Tuesday.

The new rail will be a key economic driver for various commercial and industrial investments outside the main cities, Al-Hamdan added.

It will also provide alternative transport solutions across the kingdom and help in enhancing road safety.

Earlier this month, SAR said it completed a project linking Waad Al-Shamal City to its North-South Railway Line, which connects the northern and eastern regions with the capital city of Riyadh, Argaam reported.

Beginning from Riyadh, the 2,750-km railway reaches up to the northern border town of Hudaitha passing by Sudair, Qassim, Hail and Al-Jouf. It also links the phosphate and bauxite mines in Jelamaid and Baitha with industrial plants in Ras Al-Khair, Jubail and Dammam.