Saudi Arabian Railways signs major international rail contracts at Innotrans 2026

Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR) has concluded its participation in the Innotrans 2026 international transport technology exhibition in Berlin, signing several international contracts and agreements to expand its fleet and infrastructure.

In the passenger sector, SAR signed a financing agreement with the Swiss Export Insurance Agency (SERV) and banks including KfW IPEX-Bank, Commerzbank, and UBS Switzerland. This deal will fund the purchase of 10 new passenger trains from the Swiss company Stadler, bringing the total number of trains contracted from Stadler to 20.

To bolster its freight capabilities, SAR signed a contract with the American company Progress Rail for 33 new locomotives and another with Greenbrier Corporation for 782 new freight cars. Additionally, a contract was signed with France’s Alstom Transport to provide technical support and maintenance services.

The company also engaged in agreements with Hitachi Rail from Japan and Astra J from Turkey. Furthermore, memoranda of understanding were signed to facilitate technology transfer and the localization of manufacturing for braking systems and spare parts, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.