Alstom has secured a major contract worth over €500 million with The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to design, build and commission a pioneering tramway system in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. This new light rail project will become the world’s longest battery-powered, catenary-free tramway line once complete, reinforcing sustainable transport innovation under Saudi Vision 2030.
The system will span approximately 22.4 km and include 17 strategically located stations linking key cultural and historical destinations, including several UNESCO World Heritage sites such as AlUla Old Town, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah, the Nabataean Horizon and Hegra Historical City.
Alstom’s turnkey scope encompasses the supply and integration of 20 Citadis B™ battery-powered trams, as well as signalling, communications, power supply and depot equipment. The catenary-free trams use Alstom’s Mitrac B™ battery solution and rapid ground charging technology, enabling high-efficiency, low-impact operation across the desert landscape.
The project emphasises sustainability and heritage preservation, with rolling stock and infrastructure tailored to respect AlUla’s unique environment and cultural significance. Alstom will also provide 10 years of maintenance and predictive fleet management through its HealthHub™ platform to ensure reliable service and asset availability.
Construction and integration activities are expected to extend through to the latter half of 2027, with operations set to support both resident mobility and tourism growth in one of the Kingdom’s most iconic cultural regions.
This landmark tramway represents another strategic milestone in Saudi Arabia’s broader drive toward low-carbon public transport and diversified mobility solutions that complement large-scale rail networks across the country.
