Saudi Arabia’s rail network continues to witness a massive surge in ridership, with official data from the Transport General Authority (TGA) confirming that **over 45 million passengers traveled by train in the first quarter of 2026**. This growth underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to building a world-class, sustainable rail infrastructure that serves both urban commuters and intercity travelers effectively.
Key highlights from the Q1 2026 rail performance include:
- 45 million total passengers across all rail networks in Q1 2026.
- 42 million passengers utilized urban rail services alone.
- Riyadh Train emerged as the top service with 31 million users.
- Haramain High-Speed Railway recorded 2 million intercity passengers.
- King Abdulaziz International Airport mover served 10 million passengers.
Breakdown of Rail Ridership
The vast majority of this traffic is driven by urban rail systems. The Riyadh Train stands out as the primary contributor, handling a staggering 31 million commuters. Meanwhile, specialized transit systems, such as the automated people mover at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, saw 10 million passengers, and the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University mover facilitated travel for 621,000 users. On the intercity front, the **Haramain High-Speed Railway remains a vital link, carrying two million passengers** during the same three-month period.
These figures represent a continuation of a strong upward trend, building on the momentum from the fourth quarter of 2025, which saw 46.7 million passengers. Compared to the second quarter of 2025, where ridership stood at 36.5 million, the growth trajectory remains consistent and impressive.
Expanding Capacity for Future Demand
To accommodate the rising demand for rail travel, Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) is aggressively expanding its fleet and operational capacity. In January 2026, **SAR issued a tender for 10 new passenger trains** specifically for its Northern Network, a move projected to nearly triple capacity to over 2.4 million annual seats. Furthermore, the Haramain High-Speed Railway has optimized its operations to support religious tourism, offering **over 140 daily trips as of March 2026** to cater to the influx of pilgrims during the Ramadan season.
The TGA continues to promote rail as a safe, high-quality, and environmentally sustainable mode of transport, essential for the Kingdom’s ongoing economic development and modernization efforts.