Alstom desert trams take shape

In January 2024 Alstom signed a turnkey contract with Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for the Al-Ula Region to build and equip at 22.4km 17-stop tramway connecting various monuments in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in north-west Saudi Arabia. The kingdom is committed to opening up the area for tourism and establishing a tramway service by 2030 is a key part of these plans. 20 trains of 100% low-floor Citadis trams will be delivered, operating entirely on battery power using the Mitrac B solution and the SRS ground-based static charging system; the company will also supply signalling equipment, power supply and the depot. All will be supplied from Alstom’s French factories. There is a 10-year maintenance element to the contract. Some of the route will follow the alignment of historic narrow-gauge Hijaz railway. Finalised visualisations have now been released showing the tourist-orientated tram line through the desert area, blending historical touches with innovative climate-adapted trams. 

 

This will be the first tramway ever to be built in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has a metro system in the capital, Riyadh and the Makka rapid transit system, with Medina and Jeddah to follow.