Saudi Railway & Uber Launch New Service to Improve Rail Travel

In an effort to expand the scope of public transportation and enhance the travel experience of passengers of Saudi Railway Company (SAR), the state-owned company has partnered with Uber to launch a new service that facilitates transport from SAR stops to final destinations. Leveraging the power of seamless mobility solutions, the partnership will provide Saudi railway riders with an integrated system that saves time and effort. 

The two-year agreement will see the service introduced initially at stations in Riyadh on the North Train Like and Qassim for the Eastern Train that covers Hofuf and Damman. The service will be rolled out to numerous other stations across the kingdom including in Al Majmaah, Hail, Al Jawf, Qurayyat and Abqaiq.

Passengers will be able to book a ride through the Uber app to their final destination before arriving at the station, making for a quicker and more comfortable arrival. Three sites will be dedicated for passengers using Uber at the stations’ arrival area, equipped with a guidance system for arriving passengers. The SAR is hoping that this new service will encourage more people to ride public transportation across the Kingdom.

Founded in 2006, SAR is concerned with operating and managing the passenger and freight rail network that connects the north with the eastern and central regions and is always looking for ways to enhance its offerings. Senior VP of Passenger Transport Engineer Khaled Al Harbi said this new service will attract more citizens to use rail travel."It is an important addition to the entire travel experience using our trains, which enables clients to reach their final destinations both quickly and flexibly. This agreement will soon be followed by further steps, with the aim of enhancing the travel experience of SAR’s passengers, making it even more comfortable, easier and safer to travel through its various facilities.”

As the Arab world’s largest economy, Saudi Arabia is vying to maintain its hegemonic power over the region’s economy and has its eye on becoming the world’s primary logistics hub. To stay on top, the Kingdom is making great strides towards diversifying its economy away from oil and investing heavily in rail, air and road transport.