Saudi Arabia’s rail sector achieved a remarkable milestone as passenger numbers soared to 46.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2025, the Transport General Authority (TGA) announced on Tuesday, highlighting a significant shift in the Kingdom’s mobility landscape.
Urban rail services spearheaded this growth by accounting for the vast majority of traffic with a staggering 43.8 million riders. Riyadh Metro claimed the top spot among city systems, as it successfully served 32.1 million passengers throughout the three-month period.
Meanwhile, the automated people mover at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah transported an impressive 10.6 million travelers during the quarter. Furthermore, the transit system at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University maintained high momentum by carrying over 982,000 passengers during this time.
Intercity Connectivity Gains Momentum
Demand for intercity rail services remained robust as the Kingdom continues to link its major hubs through high-speed infrastructure projects. The Haramain High Speed Railway, connecting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah, carried approximately 2.9 million passengers. Additionally, the Eastern Railway Line, which links the capital city of Riyadh to Dammam, moved 367,000 people during the final quarter. The Northern Railway Line also contributed to these results by recording 234,000 passengers on its route toward the northwestern border.
Beyond passenger transport, the rail network played a pivotal role in the national logistics strategy by moving massive volumes of cargo. The authority reported that trains moved more than 4 million tons of essential minerals and diverse goods during the fourth quarter. Specifically, the Northern Line handled the bulk of this weight by transporting 3.5 million tons of materials across the country. The Eastern Line moved 439,000 tons of goods and 218,000 standard containers, proving the efficiency of Saudi Arabia’s modern freight systems.
Consequently, these figures underscore the successful expansion of the national rail network and its vital role in supporting Saudi Vision 2030.
