“SAR” passenger number jump 55% during 2023

The Saudi Railways “SAR” announced its most prominent operational numbers for the year 2023 AD, including numbers recorded for the first time in the history of the Kingdom’s railways, as the number of passengers on Saudi Railways trains exceeded 11.2 million passengers across the East and North networks, the Haramain Express Train, and the Holy Sites Train during the year, with an increase It reached 55% compared to 2022 AD.

The report indicated an increase in the number of passenger train trips on the SAR networks during the year 2023 by 25% compared to the year 2022, bringing the total number of trips to more than 32 thousand trips.

In the same context, “SAR” explained that the volume of metals and goods transported through its networks during the year 2023 AD exceeded 24.7 million tons, an increase of 6% over the year 2022 AD, which contributed to removing more than two million truck trips from the highways and reducing fuel consumption in the Kingdom. By more than 3 million barrels, reducing carbon and harmful emissions.

For his part, the CEO of SAR Railways, Dr. Bashar bin Khalid Al-Malik, explained that the positive results achieved by the company in 2023 reflect the great and unlimited support of the wise leadership and confirm the company’s commitment to working at a deliberate upward pace that is consistent with its strategic goals, as these historical numbers came. The exceptional successes are the result of effective strategic planning, adopting the latest technologies in the railway transport sector, and building sustainable partnerships with success partners from the government and private sectors, which contributed to raising the quality of services provided and increasing operational efficiency.

He pointed to the distinguished achievements achieved by “SAR” this year, in addition to the exceptional numbers that were reached for the first time in the passenger and freight sectors, and added: “The year 2023 witnessed the launch of many qualitative initiatives and new services in the railway sector in the Kingdom, where the first trials were launched.” Operationalization of the hydrogen train at the level of the Middle East and North Africa, direct export service from the dry port in Riyadh, electronic linking of passenger train tickets with a number of strategic partners, and the signing of several contracts for the first time to link maritime transport with rail transport, as well as the first contract for shipping cars via trains.

Al-Malik pointed out that the achievements of 2023 also extended to strengthening the shipping sector and expanding the customer base, which led to reaching new industries that benefit for the first time from transportation services via railways, thus contributing to supporting the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, and raising the level of services provided to all… segments of customers, which highlights the vital role that “SAR” plays in supporting various economic activities that are witnessing significant growth in the Kingdom, and which also contributes to raising the company’s financial returns, which recorded their highest levels during the year.