Saudi trains carry more than 38 million passengers in second quarter of 2026
text_fields
More than 38 million passengers travelled by train across Saudi Arabia in the second quarter of 2026, the Transport General Authority said.
Trains also carried 3.7 million tonnes of minerals and goods during the same period, along with 47,000 standard containers.
The authority said rail transport continues to support passenger movement within and between cities, ease road congestion and improve links between Saudi cities and governorates.
Urban rail accounted for most passenger journeys, with 36 million riders recorded during the quarter.
Riyadh Metro carried 29.7 million passengers, while Al Mashaaer Metro transported 1.9 million.
The automated people mover at King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded about 3.9 million passengers, while the system at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University carried 635,000 passengers.
Intercity rail services also saw strong use.
The Haramain High Speed Railway, which links Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City, carried 1.6 million passengers.
The Eastern Train, connecting Riyadh with the Eastern Region through Hofuf and Abqaiq to Dammam, carried 389,000 passengers.
The Northern Train, which links Riyadh with Majmaah, Qassim, Hail, Al Jouf and Qurayyat, transported about 246,000 passengers.
On freight, Saudi Arabia Railways moved 3.3 million tonnes of goods on the SAR North Train, while the SAR East Train carried 396,000 tonnes.
A further 47,000 twenty-foot equivalent units were transported by rail.
The authority said freight rail is helping improve supply chain efficiency, strengthen links between ports and economic regions, and support economic activity across the Kingdom.