The Saudi government has granted an extension of the Haramain Project contract—the high-speed line linking Mecca and Medina—to the Spanish consortium led by Renfe and Talgo.
The overall operation amounts to €2.8 billion. It includes the extension of operations and maintenance until 2038, and the purchase of 20 new Talgo trains worth €1.332 billion.
The agreement was announced in Riyadh by Spain’s Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, following a meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. He stated that the project “confirms international confidence in the Spanish railway model and the technical excellence of its companies.”
New Talgo rolling stock for Haramain, maintenance included
The 20 new Talgo 350 trainsets will join the 35 units already running on the Haramain corridor, delivered in 2018. They will be of a similar design, each consisting of two power cars and 13 coaches, offering 417 seats across two classes.
Capable of a commercial top speed of 300 km/h, the trains will maintain Talgo’s hallmark accessibility features, such as level boarding and step-free platforms, designed to speed up passenger flow during peak times, particularly throughout the pilgrimage season.
It remains unclear who will supply the traction equipment. For Renfe’s and Haramain’s original Talgo 350 sets, the supplier was Bombardier—now part of Alstom. However, Talgo ceased working with Bombardier after fulfilling the first Saudi order. The prototype of the Avril used ABB technology, while the Series 106 features traction systems supplied by Ingeteam.
The new deal also includes a maintenance agreement running until 2033, extendable for another five years, strengthening Talgo’s service business strategy. The Spanish manufacturer operates two technical bases in Saudi Arabia, employing over 270 staff dedicated to ensuring fleet reliability and availability.
Renfe consolidates its role in Saudi high-speed operations
Renfe will continue as the operator of the Haramain line, securing a five-year contract extension. The current agreement was due to expire in 2033, meaning Renfe will now manage operations at least until 2038.
The state-owned company, employing more than 1,000 people in the country, has achieved record passenger figures: nearly 10 million travellers in 2025, up from 9.1 million the previous year. The service operates over 100 daily runs, increasing to 140 during pilgrimage periods.
The Spanish consortium—organised under the Saudi Spanish Train Project Company (SSTPC)—will invoice the Saudi government around €300 million annually for operation and maintenance services.
This €1.5 billion extension cements Spain’s technical leadership on the 450-kilometre high-speed corridor, equipped with ERTMS Level 2 signalling and operational standards comparable to those of Spain’s own AVE network.