Riyadh to Jeddah in just 4 hours! What is Saudi Prince Salman’s ‘Land Bridge’ project? Will link Red sea to…, project costs Rs…

Saudi Arabia Land Bridge: Saudi Arabia is building the ‘Land Bridge’, a $7 billion high-speed rail project under Crow Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious ambitious ‘Saudi Vision 2030’, which will cut travel time between Riyadh and Jeddah– two of the Kingdom’s most important cities– to under four hours.

What is Saudi Arabia’s Land Bridge project?

Developed at an estimated cost of around $7 billion, Saudi Arabia’s high-speed rail network, dubbed the Land Bridge, is aimed to revolutionize and transform trade and travel across the Arabian Peninsula, and is part of Prince Salman’s Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to transform the desert Kingdom into a global transportation hub by connecting major cities.

The Land Bridge will link the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, connecting Jeddah on the Red Sea to Dammam on the Gulf via Riyadh, covering a distance of over 1,500 kilometers, Gulf News reported. The high-speed rail project will slash travel time between Riyadh and Jeddah from 12 hours by train to less than four hours, according to officials.

How Saudi Vision 2030 aims to revolutionize train travel in Saudi Arabia?

As per officials, enhancement of Saudi Arabia’s railway network is a key part of Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Vision 2030, and the project aims to expand the rail network from 5,300 kilometers to 8,000 kilometers, to establish Saudi Arabia as a major logistics and transportation hub in the Gulf and the wider Arabian Peninsula.

The Land Bridge project is designed to serve as a the core of this ambitious plan, with Saudi Railways Company (SAR) rapidly working on building a network freight and passenger stations connecting King Abdullah Port to major industrial cities, especially Yanbu, they said.

Under the railway modernization drive, SAR has ordered 15 new high-speed trains capable of speeds up to 200 kilometers per hour, and these locomotives will soon be made operational, Saudi officials said.

Saudi Arabia to launch first luxury train in Middle East

Notably, Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch ‘Dream of the Desert’, the first luxury train in the Middle East, by the end of 2026. The 1,290-kilometer luxury train service, announced earlier this year, will provide passengers with panoramic views of Saudi Arabia’s natural landscapes from Riyadh to Qurayyat.

The ‘Dream of the Desert’ train, described by officials as a ‘moving palace’ and a ‘palace on wheels’, has been commissioned by state-owned Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), and is being built by Italian hospitality company Arsenale Group.

According to reports, the Dream of the Desert luxury train will feature 14 carriages housing 34 luxurious suites. The interiors of the train have been crafted by Lebanese architect Aline Asmar d’Amman, boasting lavish ceilings adorned with gold,  tile-fronted bars, plush velvet banquettes, and elements showcasing a touch of Saudi traditions.