RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority said more than 45 million passengers travelled across the Kingdom’s rail network in the first quarter of 2026.
The authority, known as TGA, said the urban rail sector recorded 42 million passengers during the quarter, including 31 million passengers on the Riyadh Metro.
It added that around 10 million passengers used the automated transport system at King Abdulaziz Airport, while the automated transport system at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University recorded 621,000 passengers.
TGA added that the figures reflect growing demand for rail-based mobility, highlighting its role in easing urban congestion, improving traffic flow, enhancing quality of life, and supporting environmental sustainability and economic development.
On intercity services, the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which connects Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah, carried two million passengers during the quarter.
It further said the Eastern Railway network, which connects the capital Riyadh with the Eastern Province including Dammam and the port via Abqaiq, Al-Ahsa, and Haradh, as well as Al Kharj, carried more than 349,000 passengers.
TGA added that the Northern Railway network, which operates from Riyadh to the northwest toward Al-Haditha near the Jordanian border, passing through Al-Majmaah, Qassim, and Hail, as well as Al-Jouf and Qurayyat, carried around 218,000 passengers.
The authority said this reflects the role of intercity rail transport in enhancing geographic connectivity as a safe and reliable mode of travel, while also contributing to reduced environmental emissions, improving transport efficiency, and supporting quality of life.
In freight transport, the authority said the volume of goods transported by rail exceeded 4 million tonnes of minerals and cargo. Of this, 3 million tonnes were moved via the Northern Railway network, while the Eastern Railway network transported more than 448,000 tonnes and 197,000 standard containers.
The authority said this highlights the role of rail freight in improving supply chain efficiency and strengthening logistics connectivity between ports and economic zones.
In the first three months of 2025, Saudi Arabia’s rail network carried more than 35 million passengers, according to data from TGA.
The authority noted at that time that intercity rail services saw significant growth, with over 3.4 million passengers traveling between cities during the first quarter.
