Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has signed a contract with a local firm to begin work on doubling the country’s freight mainline, in a bid to increase capacity and meet private sector transportation demand.
The first phase involves doubling the freight mainline from Dammam to Riyadh that will pass by Abqaiq, Al Hasa, Harad and Al Kharj.
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The contract has a performance period of 24 months.
The doubling of the mainline is aimed at increasing market share by safely and securely transporting goods by train, in addition to reducing road accidents, road maintenance costs and decreasing pollution caused by trucks.
As part of the SRO’s new approach, the doubled line will also see passenger trains running between Hofuf and Harad in the initial stage and then to Al Kharj in the future.
SRO president Mohamed Khalid Al-Suwaiket said that work on completing the bidding documents for the second phase of the project is currently underway.
The second phase of the project involves doubling the line between Riyadh and Al Kharj, including fencing, bridges, signalling and communications system for passengers and cargo transport.
SRO has transported more than three million tons of containers by train from King Abdul Aziz Sea Port in Dammam to Riyadh Dry Port last year.
Image: Officials during the contract signing for first phase of doubling of the freight line. Photo: courtesy of Saudi Railways Organization.
