Saudi Railway Company and Alstom sign €22m deal to boost freight services
Saudi Railway Company and Alstom have signed a €22 million, five-year contract to enhance freight rail efficiency and support local workforce development.
Key Takeaways
AI• The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Saudi Railway Company (SAR) CEO Bashar bin Khaled Al-Malik, and Alstom CEO Martin Seon.
• The contract is valued at €22 million and will run for five years.
• The partnership aims to improve the reliability and performance of existing onboard systems for SAR’s freight trains on the northern line.
• The agreement will also support training and knowledge transfer programs for Saudi engineers, technicians, and operators.
Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility solutions, has signed a €22 million, five-year contract with the Saudi Railway Company to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the North Freight Train, which operates along the North–South Corridor in the Kingdom.
The North–South Corridor is one of Saudi Arabia’s key railway links, transporting around 13.5 million tons of freight annually via the northern line. The corridor connects mining sites to processing facilities and export terminals, playing a vital role in supporting the Kingdom’s industrial and logistics sectors.
To ensure the continuity and reliability of freight operations along the North–South Corridor, Alstom will provide its FlexCare Perform maintenance services for critical onboard systems across SAR’s locomotive fleet.
These systems are essential for daily operations, monitoring train performance, managing speed, and enabling communication with signaling infrastructure, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable freight movement across the network.
Alstom will also adopt a more proactive maintenance approach, combining real-time monitoring with improved spare parts availability to boost fleet readiness and reduce response times.
The scope of work includes system upgrades, maintenance documentation development, provision of digital tools, and training programs for Saudi talent.
These combined measures will support efficient daily maintenance, enhance operational performance, and strengthen the long-term reliability of SAR’s freight services.
Mohamed Khalil, Alstom’s Managing Director for the Middle East, said:
"Our partnership with SAR is built on a shared ambition to enhance railway performance and support Saudi Arabia’s long-term transport goals. Through this collaboration, we are improving reliability, supporting local talent development, and creating lasting value for the Kingdom’s freight sector."
In addition to operational support, the initiative will help develop local capabilities by supporting training and knowledge transfer programs for Saudi engineers, technicians, and operators, enabling the gradual localization of technical expertise and strengthening the Kingdom’s rail ecosystem.
By supporting a vital freight corridor and developing local expertise, this initiative contributes to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a more efficient, resilient, and competitive logistics sector.
Alstom is a global leader in rail services, supporting clients throughout the asset lifecycle with a comprehensive portfolio of service solutions. FlexCare Perform maintenance services are tailored to customer needs, from technical support and spare parts to integrated maintenance solutions.
Alstom maintains more than 36,000 rail vehicles worldwide, including over 2,450 locomotives, and is a trusted maintenance partner for both Alstom and non-Alstom rail assets.