Saudi Arabia Railways Expands Container Train Service Nationwide

Container train operations are being expanded across Saudi Arabia to support logistics flows and maintain supply chain stability amid disruptions affecting maritime routes in the gulf.

The move enables additional stations nationwide to be served, strengthening connectivity between ports and cargo terminals within the Kingdom and across neighbouring markets.

Container trains currently transport more than 2,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per day, with the expansion allowing for increased volumes, although no updated capacity figures have been disclosed. The adjustment comes as shipping activity in the region continues to be affected by reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade corridor.

In parallel, additional maritime measures have been introduced to support cargo movement. Five new shipping services have been added across Red Sea routes, alongside a new service linking King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with ports in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Umm Qasr in Iraq, with a handling capacity of up to 3,000 TEUs.

The expansion of rail services forms part of broader logistics planning aimed at maintaining continuity across supply chains during periods of disruption. Longer-term, the national rail network is expected to expand significantly, with plans to increase its length by around 45% to more than 8,000 kilometres from the current network of over 5,500 kilometres.