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Alstom to support KSA’s east-west freight corridor: French train maker Alstom has inked a five-year technical support and spare part supply agreement worth SAR 300 mn (c. USD 80 mn) with Saudi Railway Company (SAR) to support KSA’s east-west freight corridor, according to a press release published on Thursday.
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The details: Under the agreement, Alstom will provide SAR with comprehensive support, including tech assistance, a supply of spare parts, and tailored staff training programs. The firm will also help digitalize the maintenance process for greater efficiency, continuously monitoring locomotives in real-time in a bid to reduce downtime and optimize fleet availability on the east-freight corridor.
About the corridor: The railway connects the key ports of Dammam and Jubail with the Riyadh dry port. The connectivity helps to enhance efficiency and solidify Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030’s plan to diversify the economy and bolster its position as a global logistics hub, the statement said. The project also includes the development of seven logistics centers, including Jubail Industrial City Logistics Centre, Damman Logistics Dry Port, a relocated Riyadh Dry Port, King Khalid Airport Logistics Centre in Riyadh, Jeddah Logistics Dry Port, King Abdullah Port Logistics Centre and Yanbu Industrial City Logistics Centre.
In the works for a while: The project was originally announced in 2004, but suspended in 2010. Plans were revived in 2011 — estimated at USD 10 bn at the time — but progress has been relatively slow since then. SAR tapped a consortium including US-based construction management firm Hill International, Italian consulting firm Italferr, and Spanish engineering firm Sener to manage the construction of the revised USD 7 bn project back in December 2023.
IN OTHER SAUDI RAIL UPDATES-
The kingdom is launching a program to localize its rail industry and generate SAR 15 bn worth of investments by 2030, Saudi Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh Al Jasser said at the Saudi Rail Conference and Exhibition last week. The Asasat program will look to boost local content in SAR’s operations to 60% by 2025, the minister said. Saudi Arabia plans to expand its rail network to over 8k km from 5.5k km to solidify its position as a global logistics hub, Al Jassar added.
