Alstom to build world’s longest catenary-free tramway in Saudi Arabia

Alstom has signed a contract worth over €500 million to build a 22.4 km battery-powered tramway for AlUla in Saudi Arabia.

The new contract will be the world's longest tramway without a catenary. The contract was agreed with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), and as part of delivering fully integrated system, Alstom will supply will 20 state-of-the-art Citadis B battery-trams.

The new line will uniquely encapsulate richness, history, and green mobility, and link 17 strategically located stations that provide access to AlUla's five core historical districts, including UNESCO World Heritage sites such as:

• AlUla Old Town (District 1);
• Dadan (District 2);
• Jabal Ikmah (District 3);
• Nabataean Horizon (District 4);
• Hegra Historical City (District 5).

Alstom's role in the project includes comprehensive system design, integration, installation, and testing and commissioning. Included in the contract is the delivery of the power supply, signalling, communication, and depot equipment.

The contracts include a 10-year maintenance agreement for the trams using Alstom's HealthHub tool for predictive maintenance and fleet management to deliver the highest availability. To provide more flexibility and reduce capital expenditure, service teams will use an itinerant workshop for all types of overhauls.

Robust training programmes will be provided for tram personnel to ensure operational efficiency.

Drawing on Alstom's in-house expertise in integrated railway systems, the trams will be built at Alstom's production sites in France, including at La Rochelle for both design and construction.

Alstom has has had a presence in Saudi Arabia for over 70 years, including with the Haramain high-speed rail line between Mecca and Medina, and providing an integrated Metro System for Lines 3, 4, 5, and 6 including their operation and maintenance.

At Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport, Alstom provided an automated people mover (APM) system that has been in passenger service since 2020, for which Alstom has carried out the O&M maintenance since 2022.

Elsewhere in the region, Alstom delivered the world's first 100% catenary-free tramway to Dubai which opened in November 2014, and built a catenary-free tramway which was the first tramway in Lusail, Qatar and the largest tramway system in the Gulf region, to transport passengers during the 2022 World Cup.

Mohamed Khalil, Managing Director of Alstom Saudi Arabia, said “This project is truly unique as it combines sustainability, passenger experience, and immersion into the surroundings, in a region full of history and wonders. It is so much more than a tramway and we are extremely honoured to have been selected by the Royal Commission of AlUla.

“This project incorporates many key elements of Vision 2030 including Saudi Arabia's focus on environmental stewardship. We very much look forward to unveiling it to the world.”