Rolls-Royce to Power Saudi Arabia’s New High-Speed Trains with Stadler Order

Swiss train manufacturer Stadler has placed an order with Rolls-Royce for 50 high-performance mtu Series 4000 diesel engines to power Saudi Arabia’s next generation of high-speed trains.

The engines will be installed in ten inter-city trainsets designed to operate at speeds of up to 200 km/h on the busy Dammam–Riyadh corridor. Each trainset will be fitted with four 12V 4000 R64 engines delivering 1,500 kW each, with an additional ten engines supplied as spares to ensure uninterrupted service during maintenance.

Before entering passenger service, four trainsets will undergo test and approval runs in Europe and Saudi Arabia. Once operational, the new trains are expected to significantly cut travel times and enhance connectivity between key Saudi cities.

The mtu Series 4000 engines meet EU Stage V emissions standards and are specially engineered to withstand harsh desert conditions, including temperatures exceeding 50°C and high dust exposure. Rolls-Royce already has more than 70 similar engines operating since 2012, proving their reliability in the region.

The agreement also includes an option for 40 additional engines, allowing Saudi Arabia Railways to expand the fleet to as many as 20 trainsets in the future.

Industry observers see the deal as a strategic win for both companies. For Rolls-Royce, it strengthens its mtu division’s footprint in the Middle East, while for Stadler, it marks another milestone in supplying cutting-edge rail technology to Saudi Arabia.

The investment aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes modern, sustainable transport infrastructure as part of the kingdom’s broader economic diversification plans.