The number of train passengers in Saudi Arabia recorded a historic increase during the fourth quarter of 2025, reaching 46.7 million passengers, driven by strong growth in urban rail traffic, which accounted for 43.8 million passengers.
Statistics showed that more than 43 million passengers used urban rail services. Riyadh Metro topped the list with over 32 million passengers, while the Automated People Mover (APM) at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah recorded more than 10 million passengers, as shown in the table below:
|
Details of Urban Rail Passengers in Q4 2025 (mln) |
||
|
Train |
Number of Passengers |
|
|
Riyadh Train |
32.1 |
|
|
APM at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah |
10.6 |
|
|
APM at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh |
0.99 |
|
|
Total |
43.8 |
|
The number of passengers on intercity trains in Saudi Arabia reached around 2.9 million during Q4 2025. Haramain High-Speed Train accounted for the largest share with more than 2 million passengers, followed by the East Railway Network (SAR) with about 367,000 passengers, and the North Railway Network (SAR) with 234,000 passengers, as shown below:
|
Details of Intercity Train Passengers in Q4 2025 (mln) |
||
|
Train |
Number of Passengers |
|
|
Haramain High-Speed Train |
2.30 |
|
|
East Railway Network (SAR) |
0.37 |
|
|
North Railway Network (SAR) |
0.23 |
|
|
Total |
2.9 |
|
Regarding freight and mineral transport, the Transport General Authority (TGA) stated that more than 4 million tons of minerals and goods, along with over 218,000 containers, were shipped via railway lines during Q4 2025. This included 218,000 TEUs and 439,000 tons transported through the East Railway Network, and 3.5 million tons carried by the North Railway Network.
Meanwhile, the number of train passengers in Saudi Arabia reached approximately 157.9 million year-to-date, comprising 146.2 million urban rail passengers and 11.7 million intercity passengers.
Data monitored by Argaam showed continued growth in urban rail usage throughout the year, rising from 32.3 million passengers in Q1 to 43.8 million passengers in Q4. Intercity passenger numbers stood at around 2.9 million in Q4, slightly higher than in the previous two quarters.
|
Development of Train Passengers in 2025 (mln) |
|||
|
Period |
Urban Rail |
Intercity |
Total |
|
Q1 2025 |
32.3 |
3.4 |
35.7 |
|
Q2 |
33.8 |
2.7 |
36.5 |
|
Q3 |
36.3 |
2.7 |
39.0 |
|
Q4 |
43.8 |
2.9 |
46.7 |
|
Total |
146.2 |
11.7 |
157.9 |
The data also showed that number of train passengers in the Kingdom surged by 270% in 2025, compared to 42.7 million in 2024.
|
Number of Train Passengers in 2025 (mln) |
|||
|
Category |
2024 |
2025 |
Change |
|
Urban Rail |
31.1 |
146.2 |
+ 370% |
|
Intercity |
11.6 |
11.7 |
+ 0.9% |
|
Total |
42.7 |
157.9 |
+ 270% |
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