Page 513 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

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número 6 - junio - 2018. Pág 511 - 529

High Speed Railway in Saudi Arabia:
Lessons to be learnt from the Spanish experience

Ortega, Alejandro
Almujibah, Hamad

Preston, John

University of Southampton 1

Abstract
With 25 years of experience, Spain has the largest High Speed Railway (HSR)
network in Europe. Taking advantage of this experience, a Spanish consortium was
awarded a €6.7 billion contract to construct, operate and maintain the second
phase of the Haramain HSR line in Saudi Arabia, as well as the supply of trains
and their maintenance for a period of 12 years. For the transport and geographic
characteristics of Saudi Arabia, the Spanish HSR is a good example to look at. A
comparison of the main topics that can influence HSR development and demand
is done including geography, economy, institutional and legal framework and
transport characteristics. Even though this kind of comparison was difficult due
to a different culture and the development of the country some lessons can be
learned.
First, the know-how gained by construction firms and the infrastructure manager
has helped drive down costs and is the key to overcoming the challenge of HSR
under extreme climate circumstances.
Second, although HSR demand mostly relies on the evolution of national income
and the transport system competing with train, Train Operating Companies have
control over influencing variables (such as commercial speed, prices or frequencies)
and therefore must have freedom to adapt their strategy to increase demand and
revenues.
Third, there are difficulties to predict demand and although rapid traffic growth
can be expected it seems doubtful the Haramain HSR line will reach 60 million
users per annum in 12 years.
Finally, due to the high risks involved in the project a greater understanding by
the parties of each other’s’ position is crucial to its success: Saudi Arabia will gain
expertise in the development and operation of HSR and will be able to attract
international funding in the future, whereas Spanish companies will benefit by
improving their technology and the possibility of exporting its know-how to other
countries.

Keywords: Country com-parison, high-speed rail, Spain, Saudi Arabia

1 Ortega, Alejandro. University of Southampton. Email: A.Ortega-Hortelano@soton.ac.uk (Corresponding author)
Almujibah, Hamad. University of Southampton. Email: H.R.Almujibah@soton.ac.uk
Preston, John. University of Southampton. Email: J.M.Preston@soton.ac.uk

International Congress on High-speed Rail: Technologies and Long Term Impacts - Ciudad Real (Spain) - 25th anniversary Madrid-Sevilla corridor 511