Saudi’s On Track – How Modern Railways are Connecting the Kingdom
From the romance of the cross-country rail journey ( think of the Orient Express, the Trans-Europe Express, or hoppin’ a train in old timey American blues and folk music) to the iconic metros of New York and Paris, the London Underground, and Berlin U-Bahn, travel by train is part of life in many countries and continents. But it’s probably not something you think of when you consider Saudi Arabia. That’s changing though as cross-country trains and inner-city metros are timetabling a more connected future for the Kingdom. In this guide, we explore how to explore Saudi by train… all aboard!
Arrivals Board – Saudi’s Train History
But before we set off from departures, let’s have a look at arrivals and see how Saudi got here. Although it might not have the railing history of Europe or North America, Saudi Arabia’s Hejaz Railway is actually on UNESCO’s list of tentative world heritage sites. First built around 1909, the railway connected Makkah and Medinah with Asia, Europe, and the rest of the Middle East… before it was largely destroyed in the First World War, inspiring one of epic cinema’s most iconic scenes. You can still visit some of its remains today at the Tabuk station and museum or the eerie Hadiyah abandoned station.
The Little Train Making a Huge Difference – The Riyadh Metro
Metros might be so well established in Europe and America that you wonder what the fuss is, but in Riyadh it’s a real game-changer (and not just because of the stunning! modern! flowing! architecture of its stations). Getting around Riyadh whether for work or leisure traditionally required a car, but now, thanks to its network of six lines and 85 stations, the Riyadh metro connects key destinations, prominent landmarks, vital services, and population centers with 176km of track.
It might sound overwhelming, but it’s easy to use. Firstly, you don’t even need to buy a ticket – If you’ve got contactless on your card or phone, you can simply tap in and tap out through the gates at the start and end of your journey. If you do want a ticket, for example to treat yourself to first class or to take advantage of the variety of multi-use passes, you can simply buy through the DARB app on Android or iPhone. Prices start at 4 SAR for a two hour pass (that’s just £0.80, US$1, or € 0.95!!) and planning your journey is easy too, either go old school and work it out for yourself with the colour coded map or embrace tech and use the journey planner. However you choose to travel, you’ll be one of the millions embracing this new of travelling in Riyadh that’s making the city more connected than ever before.
Cross the Country in Style – Saudi Modern High-Speed Rail
The Kingdom has two main modern inter-city railways, the North Line and the East Line. Can you guess which directions they run? They’re both operated by Saudi Arabian Railways and link key cities, including Riyadh in the country’s center, Dammam on the east coast, and Al Qurrayat near the border with Jordan, passing through some of the Kingdom’s incredible landscapes and most intriguing destinations on the way.
For example, take the North Line, which runs from the country’s capital Riyadh to Al Qarrayat, to experience historic Ha’il or make a date with a date festival in Qassim. Alternatively, take the East Line from Riyadh to visit Hofuf amid the Al Ahsa oasis or enjoy the seaside Arabian Gulf city of Dammam at the line’s end. Once again, wherever you choose to go, it’s easy to get there with SAR’s journey planner and tickets available online. All the trains offer modern comforts, including onboard food and drink and even sleeper carriages for the longest journeys, and are aligned with the rigorous international safety standards – including the UK’s Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB).
And did you think Saudi forgot about its western coast? Because there’s also the Haramein Highspeed Rail, which connects Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). Just as easy to use as the North and East Lines with online journey planners and ticket booking, the Haramein is open to all (though non-Muslims can’t travel to Makkah).
Looking Further on Down the Track – The Saudi Landbridge and Coastal Railways
Saudi Arabia is now well into planning two further rail connections, the 900km Landbridge Project will connect Riyadh with Jeddah, while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Coastal Railway will connect Saudi with Oman, the UAE, Saudi Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait along around 2,177-km of track. And with the Landbridge crossing Saudi’s interior and the Coastal Railway navigating the Arabian Gulf shoreline, these new projects are sure to offer some spectacular views, too.
Because besides the ease of travel, it’s the site of changing landscapes slipping by before the excitement of arriving in a new destination that make train travel one of the best ways to truly experience a country. So, get your plane to the Kingdom of Rail but don’t worry about the automobile when you arrive – try by train instead.
