On February 8, 2026, Spanish rail transit company Talgo once again received good news in the Middle East market: it won the bid from Saudi Arabia to manufacture 20 new high-speed trains for the Haramain high-speed railway, and is responsible for long-term maintenance orders including a total of 55 new and existing trains. This order, awarded by the Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the Ministry of Finance through the Saudi Spanish train project company SSTPC, has a total value of approximately 1.3 billion euros. It not only drives Talgo's current order size to a historical high of nearly 6 billion euros, but also marks a new stage of strategic mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides in the high-end rail transit field since the successful delivery of the first 35 trains in 2018.

Technical replication and adaptability upgrade

According to the agreement, the 20 newly added high-speed trains will strictly benchmark against the existing fleet of 35 trains that were put into operation in 2018, continuing the mature genes of the Talgo 350 train. The maximum commercial operating speed of this model can reach 300 kilometers per hour, equipped with the European train control system ERTMS L2, and specially optimized for the extreme desert environment of high temperature and sandstorm in Saudi Arabia, ensuring long-term stability during operation. The interior of the carriage continues to adopt the iconic fully flat floor structure, achieving seamless and level docking with the platform. With the combination of 2 locomotives and 13 passenger cars and a total seating design of 417 people, it can significantly improve turnover efficiency during peak passenger flow periods.

Full lifecycle service guarantee

Unlike pure vehicle sales, the core of this contract lies in deep service binding. Talgo will undertake the long-term operation and maintenance tasks of 55 high-speed trains, with a basic service period until 2033 and the flexibility to extend until 2038. To support this huge maintenance demand, Talgo has localized two maintenance bases in Saudi Arabia and established a professional technical team of over 270 people to provide round the clock maintenance support.

From the purchase of 35 trains in 2018 to the current increase of 20 trains, Talgo has built a steel silk road in the heart of the Saudi desert with mature technological adaptability and a full lifecycle service commitment. This maintenance contract, which has lasted for more than ten years, not only provides a solid reassurance for the efficient operation of the Haramain high-speed railway, but also transforms Talgo from a simple equipment supplier to a deep operational partner. With 55 high-speed trains speeding along the desert line, Talgo is showcasing its outstanding strength as a global rail transit solution provider through its dual wheel drive mode of technology output and service implementation.Editor/Cheng Liting