Brief
Saudi Arabia to add 94 trains to Riyadh Metro in SR5.5 billion expansion
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced contracts with Siemens and Alstom to increase the fleet from 183 to 277 trains, with deliveries starting in 2028.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Saudi Arabia announced a SR5.5 billion expansion of the Riyadh Metro that will add 94 new trains, raising the fleet from 183 to 277 units, according to Gulf News.
What happened
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) said it awarded contracts to German engineering group Siemens and French rail manufacturer Alstom. The new trains will be rolled out in phases beginning in 2028, with testing before they enter service on the network’s six lines based on passenger demand.
What the reports add
Gulf News detailed the expected capacity gains: the Red Line could see a 142% increase, the Yellow Line 116%, and the Blue Line 60%. Capacity on the Orange and Purple lines is projected to rise by 27% and 16% respectively. Daily passenger capacity on the Blue Line would grow from 340,000 to 533,000, while the Red Line would handle 370,000 passengers, up from 154,000. The Yellow Line’s capacity is set to more than double to over 288,000 daily riders.
What was said
RCRC Chief Executive Ibrahim Al Sultan told Gulf News the metro has carried more than 300 million passengers since operations began, with average ridership up 25% between January and September 2026 compared with the previous year.
How it came about
The expansion is timed for Riyadh’s upcoming hosting of Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Al Sultan also noted progress on extending the Red Line from King Saud University to Diriyah, adding five new stations, and highlighted parallel road‑development projects covering 700 km, as well as the Green Riyadh programme that has planted over 4.5 million trees.
Key facts
- Saudi Arabia approved a SR5.5 billion expansion of Riyadh Metro. (gulfnews.com)
- The expansion adds 94 new trains, increasing the fleet to 277. (gulfnews.com)
- Deliveries of the new trains will start in 2028. (gulfnews.com)
- Capacity on the Red Line could rise by 142%, the Yellow Line by 116%, and the Blue Line by 60%. (gulfnews.com)
- RCRC chief Ibrahim Al Sultan said ridership rose 25% in early 2026. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Riyadh Metro Expansion: 94 New Trains to Boost Capacity by 60% Ahead of Expo 2030”
