Saudi Railways...
There are three rail routes in Saudi Arabia, run by two different state-owned organisations, Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO, www.saudirailways.org) and Saudi Arabia Railways (SA, www.sar.com.sa).
Riyadh - Dammam (run by SRO)
Riyadh - Qassim - Hail -Jauf (run by SAR)
Mecca - Jeddah - Medina (run by SRO)
Useful
country information
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Train operator: |
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) - Riyadh-Hail-Jauf www.sar.com.sa. Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) Riyadh-Dammam www.saudirailways.org |
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Time zone: |
GMT+3 all year |
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Dialling code: |
+966 |
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Currency: |
£1 = approx 4.9 Saudi Riyals. $1 = approx 3.7 Saudi Riyals. Currency converter |
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Tourist information: |
See UK Foreign Office travel advice at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia |
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Visas: |
UK & most other nationals need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia. |
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Page last updated: |
5 April 2019 |
Riyadh
to Dammam
This route is run by Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) although their website www.saudirailways.org seems inaccessible. Riyadh to Dammam is 449 km, the line opened in 1981. Dammam is close to Bahrain.
Riyadh ► Dammam |
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Days of running: |
daily |
daily |
daily |
daily |
daily |
Thur, Sat |
daily |
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Dammam |
07:59 |
11:18 |
13:25 |
15:31 |
17:38 |
19:47 |
21:00 |
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Riyadh |
11:35 |
15:45 |
17:01 |
19:07 |
21:14 |
23:05 |
00:36 |
Dammam ► Riyadh |
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Days of running: |
daily |
daily |
Thur, Sat |
daily |
daily |
daily |
daily |
|
Dammam |
03:45 |
08:05 |
11:43 |
13:35 |
15:42 |
17:48 |
19:55 |
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Riyadh |
07:22 |
11:42 |
15:03 |
17:12 |
19:19 |
21:25 |
23:32 |
How much does it cost?
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One-way fare |
Standard class |
Premium class |
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Riyadh - Dammam |
? riyals ($?) |
? riyals ($?) |
How to buy tickets...
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Buy tickets at the station. There is no online booking as their website www.saudirailways.org is inaccessible.
What is the train like?
The Riyadh-Dammam trains are 5-car air-conditioned sets with a power car at one end and driving cab at the other. Built by Spanish manufacturer CAF, these trains date from 2011-12. The trains have Premium (1st) class and Standard (2nd) class, a cafe counter and even a prayer area.
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The Riyadh-Dammam train. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com... |
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1st class seats. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com. |
2nd class seats. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com |
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Prayer area. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com. |
Buffet car. Courtesy DiscoverByRail.com. |
Riyadh station...
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Riyadh station. |
Riyadh station. Photos courtesy DiscoverByRail.com. |
More information...
If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!
Riyadh
to Qassim, Hail, Jauf
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This route is operated by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR, www.sar.com.sa. They have a good website with clear schedules, prices and online booking.
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There are two daytime trains in each direction every day, plus an overnight sleeper with 4-berth private compartments which are sold by the compartment for single, double, triple or quadruple occupancy.
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If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!
Medina
- Jeddah - Mecca
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The new high-speed railway linking Medina, Jeddah & Mecca opened in October 2018. It's operated by 300km/h trains built by Spanish firm Talgo and run by Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) although their website www.saudirailways.org seems inaccessible.
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Jeddha to Mecca is 78 km. Mecca to Medina is 450 km. So far, trains on this route have proved both busy (80%+ load factors) and punctual (93% on time).
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There are four trains each way on Saturdays & Sundays, two each way on Thursdays & Fridays, no trains on Mon-Wed. However, service is ramping up progressively to 7 days a week.
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Note that non-Muslims aren't allowed in Mecca.
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If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!