RIYADH — The Transport General Authority (TGA) reported that more than 38 million passengers traveled by train across Saudi Arabia during the second quarter of 2026.During the same period, trains also transported 3.7 million tons of minerals and goods, in addition to 47,000 standard containers. Trains are one of the key pillars of passenger and freight transport, contributing to smoother movement within and between cities, reducing traffic congestion, and improving quality of life. They also support environmental sustainability and economic development while connecting the Kingdom's cities and governorates.According to the authority's indicator, urban rail passenger transport recorded 36 million passengers, including 29.7 million who used the Riyadh Metro and 1.9 million who traveled on Al-Mashaaer Metro. The automated people mover at King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded approximately 3.9 million passengers, while the automated people mover at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University recorded 635,000 passengers, reflecting growing demand for this mode of urban transportation.The authority said the Haramain High Speed Railway, which connects Makkah and Madinah via stations in Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, and King Abdullah Economic City, carried 1.6 million passengers.TGA added that 389,000 passengers traveled on the EasternTrain, which connects Riyadh with Eastern Region via Hofuf and Abqaiq to Dammam, while the Northern Train connecting Riyadh with Majmaah, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf, and Qurayyat carried approximately 246,000 passengers.Regarding freight transport, the authority said Saudi ArabiaRailways (SAR) transported 3.3 million tons of goods on the SAR North Train, while the SAR East Train carried 396,000 tons. In addition, 47,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were transported, underscoring the role of rail freight in improving supply chain efficiency, strengthening logistical links between ports and economic regions, and supporting economic activity in the Kingdom.
