DAMMAM, 22 April 2004 — The Saudi Railway Organization has signed a contract worth SR70 million with General Motors for the supply of eight locomotives for its fleet, according to Khaled Al-Yahya, president of SRO.
Al-Yahya said General Motors will deliver the eight new locomotive over a ten-month period. The locomotives will be state-of-the-art engines based on the latest technology and will enhance the capacity of the Saudi Railway in terms of horsepower by 40 percent, he added.
Saudi Railway has undertaken a massive expansion and development program and according to Al-Yahya the new locomotives will contribute to this program. At present Saudi Railway has 22 locomotives in its rolling stock for passenger and transport services.
The present service is between Dammam and Riyadh via Abqaiq and Hofuf. It provides an important service to Riyadh Dry Port. Under the new development program, SRO will connect the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah as well as Jubail to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.