Arab News, Sat, May 04, 2024 | Shawwal 25, 1445
SAR sees 9% annual growth in cargo transported
Saudi Arabia:
The volume of minerals and goods
transported by Saudi Arabia Railways reached 6.34 million tonnes during the
first quarter of 2024, an annual increase of 9 percent.
According to its quarterly report, SAR stated that
over 2.7 million passengers utilized its services, marking a 23 percent growth
compared to same period last year.
Passenger rides also increased by 3 percent,
reaching a total of 8,252 trips across the East Train, North Train, and Haramain
Express train networks.
The surge in the total volume of minerals and
goods has helped reduce the number of truck trips on the country’s roads by more
than 500,000, leading to improved traffic safety, less wear and tear on road
infrastructure, and lower carbon emissions.
Bashar bin Khaled Al-Malik, CEO of SAR, affirmed
on X, that these outcomes highlight the growing demand for distinguished railway
transportation services, known for being among the most reliable, safe, and
eco-friendly modes of travel.
He further noted that SAR is steadily progressing
toward achieving its national strategic goals, initiating several pioneering and
distinctive future projects during the first quarter of 2024. This includes the
signing of the luxury “Desert Dream” train agreement, a first in the Middle East
and North Africa, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Additionally, Al-Malik disclosed that the train is
slated to commence its inaugural trips by the end of 2025. He elaborated that
SAR has connected the logistics zone to the second industrial city in Dammam to
the railway network.
This connection will provide access to King
Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, the Riyadh Dry Port, as well as the ports of Jubail
and Ras Al-Khair.
Furthermore, in February, SAR inked two
memorandums of understanding with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and
Technology Zones, also known as Modon.
This collaboration with the National Industrial
Development and Logistics Program aims to strengthen supply chains in the
central and eastern regions, enhancing product access to local, regional, and
global markets.
During the same month, SAR finalized a contract
with Stadler, a Swiss rail vehicle manufacturer, to acquire 10 new passenger
trains for the East Train network.
The deal will increase the number of passengers
using the transport system in the region to 3.8 million a year. This will enable
the operation of direct “Express” trips from Riyadh to Dammam to meet the
escalating demand for trips between the two primary cities in the Kingdom.