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Dammam–Riyadh line

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Dammam–Riyadh line
A freight train on the line near Dhahran in August 2025
Overview
OwnerSaudi Arabia Railways
LocaleEastern Province and Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
Termini
Stations4
Websitewww.sar.com.sa
Service
Operator(s)Saudi Arabia Railways
History
Opened1953 (freight); 1981 (passenger)
Technical
Line length449 km (279 mi)
Number of tracks2
CharacterAt-grade
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed180 km/h (110 mph)
Route map

The Dammam–Riyadh line is a passenger railway line in Saudi Arabia, connecting the Eastern Province's capital city of Dammam with the national capital of Riyadh. The line has two branches, with the original freight line running for 556 km (345 mi), and the passenger line running for 449 km (279 mi), with a 139 km (86 mi) shared section. First opened in 1953, the line has four stations. It is owned and operated by Saudi Arabia Railways.

History

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Construction of the line in 1947

Planning for the line started in 1947 with an agreement between King Ibn Saud and ARAMCO (the Arabian-American Oil Company, now Saudi Aramco) to lay a 547 km (340 mi) freight line. Bechtel Construction Company was chosen to build the rail line, as well as a sea port at the eastern end of the line at Dammam, with construction beginning in September 1947. In 1948, veteran American railroad engineer James H. Gildea was hired to oversee the project. The biggest obstacle to building the rail line was the Persian Gulf shallows at Dammam. To allow deep draft vessels to unload, a rail causeway of approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) was built out into the Persian Gulf. The first 5 miles (8.0 km) were a rock causeway and the last couple of miles a section made of a steel trestle. One of the first vessels to unload was a Dutch freighter, in 1950, with a load of rails for construction of the line. The first trains started moving between Dammam and Riyadh in 1953,[1] and a passenger service was introduced in 1981.[citation needed]

Upgrade

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In 2011, it was announced that, as part of a 30-year master plan, there would be upgrades to the line to replace level crossings with grade separations,[2] and to bypass of the city centre of Hofuf.[3] This would allow trains to reach 200 km/h (124 mph).

In 2014, the SRO awarded a contract worth US$1.6 million to a consortium led by Spanish firm Consultrans to study alignments for a high-speed line linking Riyadh and Dammam.[4]

In December 2015, the SRO President stated that the speed of trains on the line would be raised from 140 to 160 km/h (87 to 99 mph) before the end of the year, and would further be increased to 180 km/h (112 mph) in 2016.[5] On 7 December 2015, SRO began operating passenger services on the line using new CAF push-pull trainsets which operate at 180 km/h (112 mph). The trains entered service as the SRO completed double-tracking of the entire 449 km (279 mi) line.[6]

Derailment

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On the 17th of February, 2017, at about 1:00 AM, a train on the line derailed near Dammam, injuring 18 people. The derailment occurred after flooding from torrential rains caused the ground under the rail line to erode. The train was carrying 193 passengers and six crew members. SRO stated that all injuries were minor. All passengers were transferred to another train and transported to Dammam station.[7] The line was closed for repair following the accident, and SRO suspended all rail services to Dammam. Services were only operated between Riyadh and Hofuf.[8] Full service was resumed on 23 February 2017.

Stations

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Push-pull passenger trainsets at Riyadh East station, January 2024

The stations at Dammam, Hufuf and Riyadh were designed and built by Lucio Barbera between 1978 and 1980. They were opened for public service in 1981. The terminus stations in Dammam and Riyadh are extremely similar and consist of a rectangular hall of three naves separated by two lines of pillars along the ends of the tracks, and two wings at the ends of the main hall along the outer tracks. The design is based on the layout of some mosques along the Mediterranean Sea, where the prayer hall is located at one side of a court with lesser wings along the sides of the court.[9] The style and decoration of the buildings uses elements such as triangular openings to construct windows, arcades, and parapets with rectangular steps,[10] elements bearing a resemblance to Nejd architecture but also common in other Arab architecture. The station building in Hofuf lies to the east of the through-line along one side. The decoration is very similar to the stations in Dammam and Riyadh.

There are four stations on the Dammam–Riyadh line:

# Station name Distance from origin[11]
English Arabic
1 Dammam الدمام 0 km
2 Abqaiq بقيق 74 km
3 Hofuf الهفوف 139.26 km
4 Riyadh (East) الرياض 449 km

Infrastructure

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Rolling stock

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Locomotives in the sidings of Riyadh East station, January 2024

The Dammam-Riyadh line uses several different types of locomotives and rolling stock, mostly as the result of the circumstances of its construction. The line used many kinds of locomotives and passenger cars that were bought from the US' railroads in its early years, however as time progressed the SRO began to buy its own locomotives (mainly from Electro-Motive Diesel) and passenger cars. Passenger trains were hauled by locomotives from the start of passenger services in 1981 until the introduction of the CAF push-pull trainsets in 2015.[citation needed]

In August 2022, Saudi Arabia Railways launched a call for tenders for ten diesel passenger trainsets in order to increase capacity on the line.[12] On the 5th of February 2024, SAR officially signed a contract with Stadler Rail for the supply of the ten trainsets,[13][14] with an additional option for ten more being offered.[15] The trains will be based on Stadler's existing SMILE design.[15]

Manufacturer/type Image Top speed Number built Notes Year(s) built
mph km/h
Class 2400 50 80 7 Secondhand Diesel-electric locomotives taken over from NS by Volker Stevin in 1976 for construction works for a seaport in Jubail. Formerly 2427, 2445, 2485, 2497, 2499, 2519, 2523. Renumbered into 101–107. Sold to Archirodon for rail reconstruction between Dammam and Riyadh and renumbered to 276-04 - 276–09. Some scrapped in 1983. Others active until 1994 and stored in Hofuf afterwards.[16] 1954-56
EMD SW1001 N/A N/A 5 Diesel-electric locomotives. Series 1022-1026[17][18][19] 1981
EMD G18W N/A N/A 16 Diesel-electric locomotives; series 1006-1021. Built in several batches from 1968 (nos. 1006-1010), 1974 (nos. 1011-1015), and 1976 (nos. 1016-1021).[18][20] 1968-1976
EMD GP18 N/A N/A 1 Diesel-electric locomotive. No. 1200[17][18][21] 1961
EMD FP7A N/A N/A 2 Diesel-electric locomotives taken over from the Arabian American Oil Company (there 1006–1007).[22][18][23] 1953
EMD FP9A N/A N/A 7 Diesel-electric locomotives; series 1502-1508.[18] Nos 1502 and 1503 scrapped.[24] 1956-1959
EMD GP38-2 N/A N/A 1 Diesel-electric locomotive; no. 2000.[18][25] 1973
EMD SD38-2 N/A N/A 6 Series 2004–2009. Order 778050. Diesel-electric locomotives[26][27] 1978
EMD GT22CW N/A N/A 3 Diesel-electric locomotives; series 2001-2003.[18][28] 1976
EMD SDL50 N/A N/A 31 Series 3500-3530; Diesel-electric locomotives.[29] Built in several batches from 1981 (nos. 3500-3505), 1984 (nos. 3506-3515), 1997 (nos. 3516-3522), and 2005 (nos. 3523-3530).[18][30] 1981-2005
EMD GT46ACS N/A N/A 17 Diesel-electric locomotives. Series 4300-4316.[citation needed] 2013-2015
EMD SDL38 N/A N/A 6 Diesel-electric locomotives. Series 2030-2035.[citation needed] 2016
Francorail-MTE CSE26-21 N/A N/A 6 Diesel-electric locomotives; series 3603-3608. (nos. 3606, 3607, and 3608 renumbered 3600, 3601, 3602)[31] 1983
Class 319.2 75 120 >4 Series 319; Diesel-electric locomotives bought second hand from the Spanish national railway Renfe in 2014.[32] 19??
CRRC Qishuyan SDD17 62 100 8 Diesel-electric locomotives. Ordered in December 2014, first two locomotives delivered in July 2015.[33][34] 2015-201?
CAF 112 180 8 passenger trainsets & 10 locomotives (5001-5010) Push-pull trainsets with a power car at one end and a driving trailer car at the other. 2011
Stadler SMILE N/A N/A 10 passenger trainsets; option to order 10 more Push-pull trainsets with two locomotives (one at either side).[35] Ordered in 2024.[13] 20??

Tracks

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The line uses type C.W.R UIC 60 rails.[11]

Signaling system

[edit]

In December 2005, the SRO contracted a consortium made up of Siemens Transportation Systems and the Saudi Arabian Nour Communications Company to modernize the Dammam–Riyadh line.[36] The line was equipped with signaling technology including an electronic interlocking and Trainguard 100 for ETCS Level 1. GSM-Railway (GSM-R) mobile radio technology was also installed for communication use on the entire rail network.[37]

Operations

[edit]

The total journey time is about 4.5 hours.[38] From the 1st of June 2016, SRO began operating an express train that covered the distance between Riyadh and Dammam in 3 hours 40 minutes. The train departs from Dammam at 9:30AM and from Riyadh at 1:10 PM daily.[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "American Railroad on the Arabian Desert." Popular Mechanics, April 1952, pp. 107–110.
  2. ^ 30-year railway master plan
  3. ^ "Hofuf bypass contract". Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  4. ^ "Infrastructure Middle East - Future Connections - Bringing the GCC together". Archived from the original on 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  5. ^ "Riyadh-Dammam high-speed train planned". Arab News. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  6. ^ UK, DVV Media. "SRO launches push-pull trains at 180 km/h". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Floods cause train to derail near Saudi's Dammam, injuring 18". Gulf Business. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Saudi rail operations expected to resume on Friday after flooding". Gulf Business. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  9. ^ A short description Archived 2012-05-09 at the Wayback Machine of the Dammam station at ArchNet.org with a comparison of the station plan to the layout of the Al-Ashar mosque in Cairo and other pictures.
  10. ^ On this page Archived 2005-01-13 at the Wayback Machine at the website of Lucio Barbera, click on the year 82 of the "Integrated Projects" time line to see a plan some drawings and pictures.
  11. ^ a b Saudi Railways Organization. "Technical Information". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  12. ^ International, Railway Gazette. "Saudi Arabia Railways invites bids to supply next generation inter-city trains". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  13. ^ a b International, Railway Gazette. "Saudi Arabia Railways orders its next generation of inter-city trains". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  14. ^ Preston, Robert (2024-02-06). "Stadler to supply 10 inter-city trains to Saudi Arabia Railways". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  15. ^ a b "[passenger] Stadler Intercity trains for Saudi Arabia Railways". Railcolor News. 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  16. ^ Dierdorp, Sicco & Davy Beumer (2011), D.E.-Locomotieven serie 2200/2300 en 2400/2500. Alkmaar: De Alk
  17. ^ a b "ttnut.om". Archived from the original on 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h "ANDRE'S GM LOCOMOTIVE SERIAL NUMBER PAGE". community-2.webtv.net. Archived from the original on 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  19. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  20. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  21. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  22. ^ "Pictures of SRO 1501". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  23. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  24. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  25. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  26. ^ www.trainweb.org http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/778050.htm. Retrieved 2025-10-04. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  28. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  29. ^ "RailPictures.Net Photo: SRO 3527 Saudi Railways Organization EMD SDL50 at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Tom Hewitt". www.railpictures.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  30. ^ "EMD Export Page". emdexport.railfan.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  31. ^ "Francorail ALCO's". www.locopage.net. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  32. ^ "World rolling stock market May 2014", www.railwaygazette.com, 11 May 2014, archived from the original on 1 August 2020, retrieved 28 April 2016
  33. ^ International, Railway Gazette. "Qishuyan locos head for Saudi Arabia". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  34. ^ Barrow, Keith (2015-07-29). "Chinese locomotives shipped to Saudi Arabia". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  35. ^ "2024-0205-media-release-stadler-will-supply-next-generation-intercity-trains-to-saudi-arabia_en" (PDF).
  36. ^ "Siemens AG - 19-12-2005". www.transportation.siemens.com. Archived from the original on 2006-01-05. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  37. ^ Siemens AG. "Dammam - Riad, Saudi Arabia". Retrieved 2008-07-09.[permanent dead link]
  38. ^ a b "Dammam-Riyadh train trip in just 3 hours, 40 minutes". Arab News. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
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