The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) signed contracts to purchase and manufacture 94 new trains as the first phase of expanding the Riyadh Metro fleet.
The expansion will increase the network’s fleet from 183 to 277 trains, with deliveries of the new trains scheduled to begin in batches in 2028.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the new trains will increase the Riyadh Metro network’s overall passenger capacity by 57%. The additional capacity will be allocated across lines based on ridership levels and expected demand.
Capacity will double by 142% on the Red Line, 116% on the Yellow Line, and 57% on the Blue Line, which will remain the network’s largest line in terms of capacity and ridership. Capacity will also increase by 27% on the Orange Line and 16% on the Purple Line.
The commission added that the Riyadh Metro network was designed from the outset to accommodate more trains and allow its capacity to expand gradually as ridership grows.
Germany’s Siemens and France’s Alstom will execute the contracts to expand the fleet, with a combined value exceeding $5 billion. The contracts cover an integrated range of project-related works and services, including the manufacture of trains, systems, and equipment, as well as maintenance, training and other technical and operational requirements.
The commission noted that the trains will be delivered in stages according to their manufacturing schedules, then undergo testing and operational trials before being gradually introduced into service as each batch is ready.
The fleet expansion comes amid continued growth in the Riyadh Metro network, which has recorded approximately 275 million passenger journeys since December 2024. Average monthly ridership in 2026 has increased by around 25% compared with the same period in 2025.
The expansion is also intended to prepare for anticipated growth in travel demand as Riyadh continues to expand and develop its destinations and projects and prepares to host major global events, most notably Expo 2030 Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) signed contracts to purchase and manufacture 94 new trains as the first phase of expanding the Riyadh Metro fleet.
The expansion will increase the network’s fleet from 183 to 277 trains, with deliveries of the new trains scheduled to begin in batches in 2028.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the new trains will increase the Riyadh Metro network’s overall passenger capacity by 57%. The additional capacity will be allocated across lines based on ridership levels and expected demand.
Capacity will double by 142% on the Red Line, 116% on the Yellow Line, and 57% on the Blue Line, which will remain the network’s largest line in terms of capacity and ridership. Capacity will also increase by 27% on the Orange Line and 16% on the Purple Line.
The commission added that the Riyadh Metro network was designed from the outset to accommodate more trains and allow its capacity to expand gradually as ridership grows.
Germany’s Siemens and France’s Alstom will execute the contracts to expand the fleet, with a combined value exceeding $5 billion. The contracts cover an integrated range of project-related works and services, including the manufacture of trains, systems, and equipment, as well as maintenance, training and other technical and operational requirements.
The commission noted that the trains will be delivered in stages according to their manufacturing schedules, then undergo testing and operational trials before being gradually introduced into service as each batch is ready.
The fleet expansion comes amid continued growth in the Riyadh Metro network, which has recorded approximately 275 million passenger journeys since December 2024. Average monthly ridership in 2026 has increased by around 25% compared with the same period in 2025.
The expansion is also intended to prepare for anticipated growth in travel demand as Riyadh continues to expand and develop its destinations and projects and prepares to host major global events, most notably Expo 2030 Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
