Swiss train maker Stadler has won a second large order from Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), which is buying ten more intercity trains worth CHF300 million. Stadler announced the deal on Friday. The order takes the form of a follow-up to an earlier contract and confirms the Swiss company’s position as a rolling stock supplier in the Gulf.
The new order comes from an option in a contract the two sides signed two years ago, which was worth around CHF600 million. That first agreement was also Stadler’s first order from the Gulf region. Exercising the option doubles the number of trains developed specifically for Saudi Arabia to 20, and the existing maintenance contract will be extended to cover the additional units.
The trains were designed around the kingdom’s climate and operating conditions. Each one is about 175 metres long and has two independent power cars, with a large number of redundant systems so that a single fault does not halt the train. Special protection and filtration equipment is fitted to cope with extreme heat and sand. Each train has seats for roughly 320 passengers. The design work was carried out specifically for this customer, which is why the second batch can be built to the same specification without fresh development.
SAR will run the fleet on its east-west line, which links the capital Riyadh with Hofuf, Abkaik and Dammam. Most of the new trains will be built at Stadler’s factories in Switzerland, while the car bodies for the power cars will come from the company’s plant in Valencia, Spain. Production will follow on directly from the first series, which started in April 2026, allowing the factories to keep the same line running rather than restarting it later.
Stadler expects the trains to enter commercial passenger service in the second half of 2029, giving the factories several years to complete the work. For the company led by Peter Spuhler, the follow-up order confirms that its first venture into the Gulf has turned into a longer relationship with the Saudi operator, and it adds to the share of production carried out at its Swiss sites. The extended maintenance contract also means Stadler will remain involved with the fleet long after the last train leaves the factory, giving it a continuing presence on one of the main passenger routes in Saudi Arabia.
