Saudi Arabia: The Desert Railway

As we entered the Riyadh railway station, in Saudi Arabia; our starting point is the front box office. This is where passengers may buy their tickets for their journey. A list of ticket prices and destinations are made available for passengers to choose from. Depending on the class, tickets prices vary. A first class ticket costs one hundred and twenty riyals, equivalent to 32 USD while an economic ticket may cost as low as sixty riyals 16 USD.

The trains operate on a fixed schedule providing five daily trips between “Riyadh” to “Al Hofuf” and from “Abqaiq” to “Dammam.”

The journey between each station consists of a four hundred and forty-nine kilometers ride. The twenty-five year old train takes around three hours to travel from Riyadh to Hofuf. The train consists of three classes separated according to price and feature.

The top seating class is “Al Rehab”, which offers private seating but lacks entertainment services. The second seating class is called “Al Talla’ea,” has smaller seats. The third class seating is the “Qafela”, seats passengers at the end of the train.

Original report by: Mohammed Al Yousy
Translated by: Shounaz Mekky
Voice: Mustapha Ajbaili
Speakers: spokesperson