Indra, a Spanish aerospace, defence and mobility systems group, has announced that it has secured the renewal of its operation and maintenance contract for the Haramain High-Speed Line project from Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) for another five-year term.

Confirming its standing as a technological partner of the Makkah-Madinah network, the Indra Group said the extension of the Haramain project contract represents a €130 million increase in its order backlog over at least the next five years and reaffirms the trust of Saudi Arabia Railways.

As per the deal, it will be tasked with the rail traffic management, telecommunications, booking, ticketing, access control, safety and IT systems that facilitate the integrated, secure and efficient management of Saudi Arabia’s leading railway infrastructure.

It will also implement onboard communications technologies for the new rolling stock that the consortium will supply to SAR, said the Spanish group in a statement.

With this project, Indra Group will bolster its position in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia, where it has implemented other advanced smart mobility solutions, such as the integral ticketing of Riyadh’s public transport network.

"Indra Group’s sustained commitment to technological innovation and ongoing improvements has been key to ensuring a safe, efficient and high-quality rail service on the high-speed line linking Makkah and Madinah," remarked Raúl Ripio, the Senior Vice President of Mobility & Technology at Indra Group.

"With the renewal of this contract, we reaffirm our commitment to the digital transformation of transport in a region which is witnessing significant growth in mobility, with a clear focus on innovative solutions," stated Ripio.

The company’s integrated rail traffic management systems (TMS) on the line linking the two Saudi cities are essential for the safe and efficient operation of its 450-plus km of track and the transport of the 900,000 passengers it currently handles each month, who also use Indra’s ticket sales and reservation technologies. 

With train traffic volumes reaching 1.8 million km per month, Indra Group’s solutions enable high levels of operational performance and punctuality on the Makkah-Madinah high-speed line.

Indra Group will continue to support and operate the technological rail traffic management, signalling, telecommunications, booking, ticketing, access control, safety and IT systems with which it has equipped the Haramain HS line, following the contract extension of the operation and maintenance contract awarded to the Consorcio Español Alta Velocidad Meca Medina (CEAVMM) by SAR, said the top official. 

The new contract signed by the Spanish consortium will incorporate 20 additional trains, which will also be fitted with Indra Group’s telecommunications systems, he added.

The company is responsible for the telecommunications systems that guarantee reliable real-time communications between the trains, stations and operational staff and the Jeddah Control Centre. 

This centre, designed and equipped by Indra Group, centralises the supervision and coordination of the operations across the entire infrastructure, anticipating operational situations, streamlining decision-making, providing a rapid response to any eventuality, helping to reduce travel times and optimising the overall efficiency of the service.-TradeArabia News Service