Saudi Arabia’s state-owned SAR has allowed contractors more time to submit their prequalification bids for the Riyadh rail link. The contract covers the construction of the new railway line which will run from the north to the south of Riyadh. Moreover, the scope of work entails the construction of a 35-kilometer-long-double-track railway line. The line will connect Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) North-South railway with the Eastern Railway Network. The contract also entails the procurement, construction, and installation of associated infrastructure. These includes viaducts, civil works, utility installations, signaling systems and other associated works. Last week, SAR had invited consultants to prequalify by September 28 for a particular contract. The noted contract was to cover design review and construction supervision for the Riyadh rail link project. Once complete, the project is expected to be an integral part of the Saudi Landbridge railway.
Project Factsheet
Significance:
- Forms a critical first phase of the Saudi Landbridge Railway Project, one of the kingdom’s most ambitious programs.
- Connects SAR’s North–South Railway with the Eastern Railway Network, enhancing national freight movement.
- Supports Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to strengthen logistics as part of Vision 2030.
Infrastructure:
- Covers construction of a 35-kilometer double-track railway line across Riyadh.
- Includes viaducts, utility installations, civil works, and signaling systems.
- Integrates with the larger Landbridge network, comprising 1,500 km of new track, including a 900 km Riyadh–Jeddah route.
Developer:
- Managed by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) as the client authority.
- Hill International (US), Italferr (Italy), and Sener (Spain) awarded project management contracts in December 2023.
- Prequalification deadline for contractors and consultants extended to September 28, 2025.
Funding:
- Estimated at $7 billion for the entire Landbridge program.
- Delivered under Saudi government funding with international contractors’ participation.
- Expected to attract private-sector and foreign partners for freight and operations.
Challenges:
- Longstanding delays since first announcement in 2004, paused in 2010, and revived in 2011.
- Issues over rights-of-way, route alignment, and high costs.
- Risk of further delays despite revived momentum under Vision 2030.
The Scope of Implementation on the Riyadh Rail Link Project
The implementation of the Riyadh rail link project provides insight that the construction of the Saudi Landbridge project is more likely. The Landbridge is an estimated $7 billion project comprising more than 1,500 kilometers of new track. Its core components is a 9ookm new railway between Riyadh and Jeddah. Once done, it will provide direct freight access to the capital from King Abdullah Port and Yanbu. The project is one of the kingdom’s most anticipated infrastructure programs. The Riyadh rail link acts as the first phases towards the grand scheme of the Landbridge project.
First announced in 2004, the Saudi Landbridge was put on hold in 2010 before being revived a year later. Key stumbling blocks were rights-of-way issues, route alignment and its high cost. In December 2023, US-based Hill International, Italy’s Italferr and Spain’s Sener had been awarded the contract to provide project management services for the programme. If it proceeds, the Landbridge will be one of the largest railway projects ever undertaken in the Middle East. Moreover, it will be among the biggest globally.
