The Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) has announced a new rail freight connection linking Saudi Arabia Railway’s (SAR) Northern and Eastern railway networks and Jubail Industrial City’s internal railway network.
SAR inaugurated the line on 9 October.
MAWANI said the new rail service will provide a vital logistical backbone to link industrial and commercial ports, supporting its efforts towards building sustainable supply chains and bolstering the competitive edge of Saudi ports.
In addition, the new Project will connect Jubail industrial City with Jubail Commercial Port and King Fahad Industrial Port in Jubail, as well as King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and other locations on SAR’s network which will develop shipping and unloading services, in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).
READ: King Abdulaziz Port Dammam breaks June container throughput record
The new rail line is set to facilitate and secure the transportation of 6 million tons of liquid and solid materials from King Fahad Industrial Port in Jubail, and more than 450,000 TEU annually through railways.
In addition, the new service will help reduce around 200,000 trucks annually on the highway network of the Eastern Province, contributing to eliminating 70 per cent of carbon emissions.
MAWANI recently signed new contracts to deepen and build new berths at Jeddah Islamic Port.
The two contracts, worth a total of SAR642 million ($171 million), were signed with major contractors PC Marine Services and Modern Building Leaders (MBL), the latter in consortium with HutaHegerfeld Saudia Ltd.
