Saudi Arabia's rail network carried more than 83 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up at least 16 percent on the same period a year earlier, according to Transport General Authority figures reported by the Saudi Press Agency. The growth underlines the expanding role that trains now play in moving worshippers and residents across the Kingdom, including the pilgrims who travel between Makkah and Madinah.
Rail services carried more than 45 million passengers in the first quarter and 38 million in the second, compared with about 35 million and 36.5 million respectively in the corresponding quarters of 2025. In all, the network handled at least 11.5 million more journeys in the first six months of the year than in the same span of 2025.
Haramain High-Speed Railway keeps pilgrims moving
For pilgrims, the most relevant line is the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which links Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City. The service carried 2 million passengers in the first quarter and 1.6 million in the second, according to the authority.
The railway has reshaped the journey between the two holy cities, a trip that once meant hours on the road. Trains cover the roughly 450 kilometres at speeds of up to 300 kilometres an hour, allowing many pilgrims to combine Umrah in Makkah with a visit to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah without a long overland drive.
The connection to King Abdulaziz International Airport also gives arriving pilgrims a direct rail link from the Jeddah gateway toward Makkah, easing one of the busiest legs of the pilgrimage.
Urban metros lead the surge
Urban rail accounted for the overwhelming majority of journeys, with 78 million recorded in the first half of the year. The Riyadh Metro was the single largest contributor, carrying a combined 60.7 million passengers across the two quarters. Its second-quarter figure alone represented a near 26 percent jump on the same period in 2025.
The automated people mover at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which shuttles travellers between check-in and boarding areas, carried about 10 million passengers in the first quarter and 3.9 million in the second. A smaller people mover at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University handled more than 1.2 million journeys over the half-year.
Intercity services beyond the Haramain line also carried millions. The Eastern Train, connecting Riyadh with the Eastern Region, moved 389,000 passengers in the second quarter, while the Northern Train, serving destinations including Qassim, Hail and Al-Jouf, carried about 246,000.
Part of a wider transport push
The Transport General Authority said the sustained growth reflects the Kingdom's broader strategy to expand rail and public transport, ease road congestion and improve mobility. Railways, the authority noted, contribute to economic development and environmental sustainability by connecting cities and reducing reliance on road travel.
The Kingdom operates a separate line, the Mashaer Metro, exclusively during the Hajj season to move pilgrims rapidly between Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. Though not counted in everyday passenger totals, it has removed tens of thousands of buses from the holy sites during the days of the rituals in recent years.
Rail also moved about 7.7 million tons of minerals and goods during the first half of 2026, the authority said, alongside 47,000 twenty-foot equivalent units of containers in the second quarter.
Practical guidance for pilgrims: Those planning to combine Makkah and Madinah should book Haramain tickets in advance, especially during Ramadan and school holidays when demand peaks. Arriving early at stations, travelling light where possible, and confirming the correct station in Makkah or Jeddah can all help avoid delays. Pilgrims should keep in mind that the high-speed line connects to the Jeddah airport, offering a smooth rail transfer soon after landing.