Riyadh Metro to add 94 trains in SAR5.5 billion expansion, raising capacity by 60%

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) announced on Tuesday that it has signed contracts worth approximately SAR5.5 billion to purchase 94 additional trains for the Riyadh Metro, increasing the network’s passenger capacity by 60%.

Expansion details and contractors

The new trains will increase the metro fleet from 183 to 277 vehicles, with deliveries scheduled to begin in phases in 2028. RCRC said the expansion is intended to meet rising demand for public transport ahead of Expo 2030 Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, as well as the ongoing development of residential, commercial and entertainment sites across the capital. The contracts have been awarded to German engineering firm Siemens and French rail manufacturer Alstom, covering train manufacturing, onboard systems, equipment and associated services.

Capacity increases across lines

Additional trains will be distributed among the six lines according to passenger demand and projected ridership. The Red Line is set to see the largest capacity rise at 142%, followed by the Yellow Line at 116% and the Blue Line at 60%. Capacity will also grow by 27% on the Orange Line and 16% on the Purple Line. According to RCRC, daily passenger capacity on the Blue Line will increase from about 340,000 to 533,000, while the Red Line’s capacity will rise from 154,000 to 370,000 passengers. The Yellow Line’s capacity will more than double, increasing from 133,000 to over 288,000 passengers per day.

Ridership, infrastructure and environmental initiatives

RCRC noted that the network was designed from the outset to accommodate additional trains and allow for gradual capacity expansion as ridership grows. The new units will undergo testing and operational trials before entering service in phases, depending on the readiness of each delivery batch. At the 37th Government Press Conference on Monday, RCRC CEO Ibrahim Al-Sultan said the metro has carried more than 300 million passengers since operations began and that average metro ridership rose by roughly 25% between January and September 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. He added that total usage of Riyadh’s public transportation network, including buses and the metro, is approaching 500 million passenger journeys, with students at schools and universities accounting for more than 20 million journeys. An RCRC survey found that 83% of Riyadh Metro passengers use the network daily, underscoring its growing role in commuting to workplaces, educational institutions and commercial destinations. Al-Sultan also reported progress on extending the Red Line from King Saud University to Diriyah, which will add five stations – two serving the university and its Medical City and three serving Diriyah. Beyond the metro upgrade, he outlined major road-works aimed at improving traffic flow and connectivity across the capital. The Main and Ring Road Axes Development Program covers roughly 700 kilometres of roads and more than 330 major intersections, including the construction of over 300 bridges and 80 tunnels. He said construction progress had reached 81% on the project linking Taif Road with Qiddiya, 45% on the Second Southern Ring Road and 42% on the two bridges being built parallel to Riyadh’s Suspension Bridge. RCRC is also implementing traffic-engineering improvements at 26 critical locations and upgrading traffic signals at 720 intersections, which will be linked to a unified traffic-control centre. Finally, the authority is advancing major environmental and urban-development initiatives, notably the Green Riyadh Program, under which more than 4.5 million trees have been planted.