<p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-445" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="5,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="5,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">RIYADH / YANBU</b> — In a milestone for the Kingdom’s transcontinental logistics infrastructure, the Saudi Railway Company (SAR), under the executive umbrella of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and Saudi Vision 2030, has completed the commercial and technical evaluation for the final dual-track civil formation, permanent way (P-way), and ballast procurement packages across the western segment of the <b data-path-to-node="5,0" data-index-in-node="420" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">$7 billion Saudi Landbridge Project</b></span><span data-path-to-node="5,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-446" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="6,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The procurement phase secures the physical civil works, sub-ballast compaction, and concrete sleeper installation required to complete the uninterrupted, dual-track freight link bridging the Red Sea industrial base at Yanbu directly into the Riyadh dry port and logistics matrix</span><span data-path-to-node="6,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="7" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-447" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="7,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">By directly connecting Yanbu Industrial City and King Abdullah Port to the central plateau, SAR is activating an overland freight artery designed to bypass maritime transit bottlenecks in the southern Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait</span><span data-path-to-node="7,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="7,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="9" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Engineering Superstructure &amp; Heavy-Axle Alignment</b></p><p data-path-to-node="10" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">The Yanbu-to-Riyadh alignment incorporates newly constructed track sections—including the 172-kilometer line extending from King Abdullah Port into Yanbu Industrial City—interfaced with the 950-kilometer east-west mainline connecting the western coast to the capital:</p><ul data-path-to-node="11" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Heavy-Axle Load Capacity:</b> Engineered to accommodate <b data-path-to-node="11,0,0" data-index-in-node="52" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">32.5-tonne axle loads</b>, the track layout enables high-capacity double-stack container rakes, specialized ISO-tank trains for petrochemical derivatives, and heavy mineral hopper wagons without railhead fatigue.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,1,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) &amp; Concrete Sleepers:</b> To withstand extreme ambient desert surface temperatures exceeding 55°C, the P-way utilizes prestressed, monoblock concrete ties secured with heavy-duty elastic fastening systems and premium igneous basalt ballast to prevent heat-induced track buckling.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,2,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Digital Train Control (ETCS Level 2):</b> The line features European Train Control System Level 2 (ETCS-2) cab signaling operating over a dedicated GSM-R/5G railway communications backbone, permitting commercial freight speeds up to 120 km/h and safe 10-minute headway intervals for scheduled freight trains.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="11,3,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="11,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Desert Sand Mitigation Infrastructure:</b> The permanent way incorporates specialized sub-grade stabilizing geotextiles, raised track embankments, dynamic wind-break deflectors, and trackside sand-retention ditches across sand dune zones to prevent operational derailment hazards.</p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="16" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="16" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Unifying Red Sea Petrochemicals with the Arabian Gulf</b></p><p data-path-to-node="17" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-460" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="17,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Yanbu is the core export hub for major petrochemical, polymer, and mineral refining complexes, home to facilities operated by SABIC, Saudi Aramco, and international joint ventures</span><span data-path-to-node="17,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="17,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="18" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-461" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="18,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Historically, moving manufactured polymers and chemical solvents across the Kingdom required either lengthy coastal maritime circumnavigation or heavy road transport along national highways</span><span data-path-to-node="18,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="18,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">. The completion of the Landbridge rail artery restructures this freight pattern:</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ol start="1" data-path-to-node="19" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="19,0,0" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-462" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="19,0,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="19,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Direct Industrial Siding Integration:</b> Dedicated rail sidings connect Yanbu's liquid bulk tank farms and container yards directly into the SAR network, enabling petrochemical manufacturers to load hopper cars and ISO tanks directly from production lines</span><span data-path-to-node="19,0,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="19,0,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="19,1,0" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-463" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="19,1,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="19,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Seamless Trans-Kingdom Handshake to Dammam:</b> Once freight trains reach Riyadh, cargo transitions seamlessly onto the upgraded Eastern Railway network, proceeding straight into King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Jubail Industrial City, creating an unbroken landbridge linking the Red Sea directly to the Arabian Gulf</span><span data-path-to-node="19,1,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="19,1,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="19,2,0" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-464" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="19,2,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="19,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Decongesting National Highway Corridors:</b> Shifting high-density freight onto rail removes hundreds of thousands of annual truck trips from Highway 40 and Route 60, cutting highway maintenance costs and reducing overland logistics greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75% per tonne-kilometer</span><span data-path-to-node="19,2,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="19,2,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ol><p data-path-to-node="21" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="21" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Vision 2030 Transformation</b></p><p data-path-to-node="22" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-465" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="22,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Speaking at the tender conclusion briefing in Riyadh, SAR and Ministry of Transport officials emphasized that the Landbridge is an operational hedge against volatile maritime trade routes</span><span data-path-to-node="22,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="22,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2836216103="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="23" id="p-rc_22bc63ca0430ccd8-466" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="23,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">By connecting seven logistics centers stretching between Yanbu and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia transforms its landmass into a continental dry conduit, providing international ocean carriers and domestic manufacturing conglomerates with a predictable, high-speed rail corridor linking Asian, European, and African trade networks</span><span data-path-to-node="23,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c3838886618="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3838886618="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="23,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span></p>