Saudi Arabia Sees Surge in Public Transport Usage as Infrastructure Expands in 2023

RIYADH – Public transportation usage in Saudi Arabia saw a remarkable surge in 2023, with substantial increases in the number of passengers on both buses and trains, as reported by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) on Thursday. This uptick in public transit reflects a broader trend of expanding infrastructure and growing demand for convenient and sustainable transport options.

The data from GASTAT indicates that bus ridership alone soared by 176% in 2023 compared to the previous year. An additional 117.6 million passengers used public buses within cities and for intercity travel. Notably, buses operating within cities transported over 113.5 million passengers, marking a 195% increase year-over-year. Intercity bus services saw around 4.1 million passengers in 2023, with a total of 3.7 million bus trips recorded across the nation.

The growth of road infrastructure has kept pace with this demand. The Kingdom’s total road network reached 316,900 kilometers in 2023, expanding by 2.2% from 2022. Roads within cities spanned 194,400 kilometers, a 0.8% increase, while intercity roads covered 74,200 kilometers, up by 0.9%. This expansion has helped accommodate the sharp rise in vehicle traffic, with intercity movement recorded at 390.4 million vehicles annually, or an average of 33.2 million per month. Vehicles entering through land ports totaled 11.8 million, a 28.9% increase, while 11.9 million vehicles departed, marking a 26% increase over the previous year.

Despite the increased traffic, road safety improved slightly in 2023. Severe traffic accidents fell by 2.5%, while fatalities from accidents decreased by 2.9%, and injuries dropped by 1.8%. The 18-30 age group was most affected by fatalities, accounting for 35% of deaths, followed by the 31-40 age group at 22%.

Rail transport also experienced a significant boost. GASTAT reported that railway ridership reached 30.3 million passengers in 2023, a 33% increase compared to 2022. Of these, intracity passengers made up 72.5% of total travel, covering over one million kilometers, while intercity travel accounted for 27.5%, completing 31,700 trips with a total distance of 10.4 million kilometers.

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) played a pivotal role in freight transport, conducting 5,200 freight train trips covering 4.03 million kilometers. The SAR network’s North and East freight lines collectively transported over 14.3 million tons of cargo, representing a 5.6% year-over-year increase. The North line handled the majority of this load, transporting 13.5 million tons, or 94.3% of the total, while the East line focused primarily on container shipments, moving over 699,000 TEUs, reflecting a 3.7% increase.

The report further noted that intercity passenger railway stations have grown to a total of 15, offering 18,359 seats and serviced by 93 locomotives and 559 coach cars. SAR also operates 12 freight stations, equipped with 158 locomotives and 3,341 cargo wagons. Intracity rail transit infrastructure now includes 25 stations with 61.7 kilometers of electrified tracks.

The expansion of both public transport and supporting infrastructure underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing accessibility and efficiency in the transport sector, catering to a rapidly growing population and supporting national goals for economic development and environmental sustainability.