Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) signed several significant agreements at this year’s InnoTrans, strengthening international collaborations. These partnerships aim to enhance the Kingdom’s railway industry through innovative technologies and services.
SAR inked a shadow operator contract with German Rail (DB) which will provide a limited-time service agreement for the Haramain high-speed railway. This collaboration highlights SAR’s focus on optimizing operational efficiency.
Joint Research Facilities
SAR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Spain’s Indra Sistemas. This partnership will establish joint research and development facilities in Saudi Arabia. A key part of the agreement is the creation of a center of excellence. This aligns with SAR’s goal of embracing digital transformation.
Enhancing Track Maintenance
SAR also secured an MoU with Italy’s Salcef. The agreement focuses on improving track maintenance and fostering collaboration in research and development. It aims to address challenges posed by Saudi Arabia’s harsh environment, including extreme heat and sand.
Cost-Effective Signalling
A new contract with EULYNX, a consortium of European infrastructure managers, seeks to reduce lifecycle costs of railway signaling. The group will establish a standardisation roadmap for signaling systems in Saudi Arabia, ensuring long-term cost efficiency.
Future Collaborations with Industry Leaders
In addition to these agreements, SAR held productive discussions with several global companies. These included Progress Rail, Voith, Wabtec, Accenture, Talgo, and Hitachi Rail. Topics covered included leveraging local capabilities and exploring potential partnerships. Notably, talks with Stadler focused on hydrogen traction technology for Saudi Arabia.
SAR CEO, Dr. Bashar Al-Malik, emphasized the importance of InnoTrans, stating, “Our presence here demonstrates our dedication to adopting cutting-edge technologies and expanding our rail network. These partnerships will be vital in advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.”
