Breaking News – SAR transports 35,000 passengers… and 14 daily trips on the Orient Express ensure the return of Gulf nationals
He pointed out that passenger traffic through the Saudi railway network has not been affected by the events taking place in the region, but rather continues to operate at full capacity to meet the increasing demand for intercity travel.
Al-Farhan explained that the Orient Express is one of the most prominent means of transportation that has witnessed active movement during the recent period, as it operates daily with up to fourteen trips, with a capacity of approximately 4,000 seats per day, which allows for serving large numbers of passengers between different stations.
He added that the number of passengers transported since the beginning of the events until today has reached approximately 35,000 across various stations.
He pointed out that the trains have facilitated the movement of citizens and residents , especially those from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as the stations witnessed a large influx of passengers wishing to travel to their home countries.
He explained that many passengers traveled via Riyadh and Dammam stations towards Gulf countries such as Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain, while others traveled via Al-Hofuf station towards Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Al-Farhan also explained that the railway system has also contributed to transporting large numbers of residents from the Gulf countries into the Kingdom by train, allowing them to continue their journey from Riyadh station to King Khalid International Airport, and then depart via flights to their home countries, in a transfer process he described as fast, safe, and organized.
Regarding the increased demand for travel, Al-Farhan confirmed that this has not caused any operational pressure on the system, indicating that the trains are already operating at full capacity according to precise schedules and advanced operational procedures that ensure the highest levels of efficiency are maintained.
He stated that daily operations are conducted according to a precise monitoring system and continuous improvement of performance efficiency to keep pace with the increasing demand for travel.
He pointed out that the role of trains at this stage is not limited to being a means of transportation, but rather they represent one of the fastest, safest, and most punctual modes of transport. He emphasized that train schedules have not been affected by events and that all trips are operating according to their scheduled times.
Al-Farhan added that the Kingdom's railway system is not limited to the Eastern Railway alone, but includes several main networks managed by Saudi Railways (SAR), including the Northern Network, the Eastern Network, the Haramain High-Speed Railway, and a network dedicated to the Hajj season, the Holy Sites Railway.
He explained that all these networks are currently operating at high capacity, with various stations experiencing active passenger traffic between cities without any impact from regional conditions.
He noted that the Haramain High-Speed Railway is also experiencing high operational density coinciding with the Umrah season during Ramadan.
He affirmed that all train networks in the Kingdom are fully prepared and operational to ensure the efficient transport of passengers between different stations, stressing that the railway system represents a crucial pillar in supporting mobility and enhancing integration between different modes of transport in the Kingdom.
Al-Farhan concluded by emphasizing that the success and continuity of operations are due – after God's grace – to the continuous follow-up and great support from the wise leadership, in addition to the direct supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, which ensures that passengers reach their destinations on time and with the highest levels of safety and efficiency.
