RIYADH: Passenger numbers on Saudi railways surged 266.5 percent to 156.4 million in 2025, as the impact of Riyadh Metro was felt in its first year of operation. According to the General Authority for Statistics, intracity traveler numbers jumped to 145.4 million from 31.1 million in 2024, an increase of 368 percent. The increase came after the $22.5 billion Riyadh Metro, designed for an eventual daily capacity of up to 3.6 million passengers, opened to the public in phases from Dec. 1, 2024.
