Saudi rail handles 3.7 million tonnes in Q2

Saudi Arabia’s rail network transported 3.7 million tonnes of minerals and goods and 47,000 TEUs in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Transport General Authority (TGA). Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) accounted for most of the freight, moving 3.3 million tonnes on its North Train and 396,000 tonnes on its East Train.

The freight figures point to the growing role of rail in moving cargo across Saudi Arabia and connecting major production and economic areas. The network also provides links between ports and inland markets, supporting the movement of goods over longer distances.

The 47,000 containers moved during the quarter show the role of rail in containerised cargo flows. Rail can help move large volumes between ports, industrial areas and other economic centres, giving logistics operators another option alongside road transport.

The North Train connects Riyadh with Majmaah, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jouf and Qurayyat, while the East Train links Riyadh with the Eastern Region through Hofuf and Buqaiq to Dammam.

The freight network supports supply chain connections across the Kingdom by linking ports with industrial and economic regions. This can help improve cargo movement, particularly for minerals, goods and containerised shipments moving between major logistics hubs.