RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has signed a contract with a Spanish company to purchase high-technology world-class passenger train sets to transport growing number of commuters. On behalf of the Kingdom, Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has signed $163 million deal with the Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF, which will supply the locomotives and cars including maintenance for an initial delivery time of four years.
Mohammed A. Zaid, an SRO spokesman, confirmed the news of SRO-CAF deal, while speaking to Arab News via telephone from Dammam, yesterday. Zaid said, “Eight train sets will be operated by the SRO”. Each train unit will be composed of one electric-diesel locomotive, which powers five cars with austenitic steel body shells. This contract stems from an international competition called in year 2006 by the SRO.
“The new trains will be designed to run at a speed of more than 200 kilometers per hour and provide revenue service under extreme conditions of up to 55 degree centigrade,” said a CAF spokesman. Besides one locomotive, each train will have VIP cars as well as first and second class cars with several other including cafeteria.
The maintenance of these units shall be carried out in a new modern depot to be equipped by CAF.
