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Saudi Arabia Railways Signs Deal to Transport Thousands of Vehicles Annually by Trains

This agreement represents a turning point in the transportation and logistics services sector. (SPA)
This agreement represents a turning point in the transportation and logistics services sector. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Railways Signs Deal to Transport Thousands of Vehicles Annually by Trains

This agreement represents a turning point in the transportation and logistics services sector. (SPA)
This agreement represents a turning point in the transportation and logistics services sector. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Al-Jabr Automotive have collaborated to transport thousands of vehicles annually by train from King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, aiming to boost operational efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize damage and carbon emissions.

The four-year contract plays a significant role in enhancing the efficiency of operational processes, cutting expenses, and minimizing the incidence of damage related to the transportation and handling of new cars.

Furthermore, it serves to alleviate pressure on the port.

CEO of SAR Dr. Bashar Al-Malik told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia Railways aims this year to finalize the removal of more than one million truck trips.

In 2022, trains contributed to keeping 1.8 million trucks off the Kingdom's roads.

Al-Malik noted that each truck that is kept off the roads has a positive impact on the environment by reducing carbon emissions, saying transporting goods through trains enhances the efficiency of operational processes and reduces traffic.

Looking forward to outreaching new customers to achieve a tangible impact on the environment and society, the CEO of SAR pointed out that the agreement represents a milestone towards achieving the strategic vision of a comprehensive transformation in the transport and logistics sector.

“We are taking a significant step through this agreement. Not only we are expanding and diversifying the services provided to our customers but also offering logistical transport solutions that contribute to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing traffic safety levels,” he said.

He further emphasized that the recent collaboration underscores full dedication to achieving sustainability goals and offering transportation solutions that prioritize the future of the nation and succeeding generations.

Bandar Al-Jabri, former president of the national committee of transport in the Council of Saudi Chambers, told Asharq Al-Awsat that this step backs economic, trade, and logistical movements among the cities of the Kingdom for the aim of achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

He noted that trains complement the maritime, land, and air sectors, expressing belief that the cost of transporting goods by trains and trucks is approximately the same.

The deal also underscores SAR’s steadfast commitment to providing sustainable solutions in the transport and logistics sector.

Aligned with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics, SAR aims to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2030, in line with the Kingdom’s environmental initiatives.

Established in 2006, SAR is the owner and operator of the North Train Railway Network and carries on the vision to build sustainable passenger and cargo transport. SAR was assigned to take over the operations and management of the network from the Saudi Railway Organization in 2021.

Al-Jabr Automotive opened its first automotive showroom in 1959 in AlKhobar. The company occupies a leading position in the Saudi automobile market, having 28 showrooms and 38 fully-fledged service centers across the Kingdom.

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Business

Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Fire, Smoke Upend Western Canada’s Summer Tourism Season

A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A helicopter works a forest fire outside of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, on Friday July 26, 2024. (Reuters)

Severe wildfire seasons are increasingly hurting western Canada's lucrative tourism industry, with some visitors beginning to avoid the busy late-summer months due to concerns about uncontrolled blazes, smoke-filled skies and road closures.

After a scorching start to July, nearly 600 wildfires are now ablaze across British Columbia and Alberta, including a huge fire that this week devastated the picturesque tourist town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.

Dozens of communities, including popular holiday spots in British Columbia's Kootenay region, are under evacuation orders and several highways are closed.

This year's surge in wildfire activity comes after Canada endured its worst-ever year for wildfires in 2023, when more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) burned, including parts of the city of West Kelowna in the heart of British Columbia's wine region.

Ellen Walker-Matthews, head of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, said the industry was seeing a lot more last-minute travel decisions instead of booking in advance.

"It's a huge blow. July and August are traditionally the busiest months in the region," said Walker-Matthews, adding that while her region has been relatively unscathed by wildfires this summer, some visitors are choosing to avoid interior British Columbia altogether.

The members of the British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association are reporting a 5-15% drop in bookings from a year ago, with the biggest declines coming from the hotter Okanagan and Cariboo regions, said Joss Penny, who heads the association.

"The concern is that this is something we have to live with and we have it every year now," said Penny.

Although wildfires in Canada's forests are natural and common, scientists say drier, hotter conditions fueled by climate change are leading to more volatile and frequent blazes.

'SMOKEY SKIES'

Some events, like the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, usually held in August, have now been rescheduled to earlier in the summer to avoid what is now seen as peak smoke season. The festival, which was cancelled last year due to nearby wildfires, was this year moved to July to benefit from "less smokey skies."

Wildfires and extreme climatic events are prompting tourists to "change their plans not just temporarily, but permanently," said Elizabeth Halpenny, a tourism researcher and professor at the University of Alberta, noting that seasonal workers in the sector are often the hardest hit as they have few protections during a bad season or amid a cataclysmic fire.

Tourism contributed C$7.2 billion to the British Columbia economy in 2022, and C$9.9 billion to Alberta in 2023, according to the latest government data.

Jasper National Park is one of Canada's premier tourist destinations, with more than 2 million visitors a year flocking to see its pristine mountain landscapes and abundant wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose and elk.

Kelly Torrens, vice-president of product at international tour company Kensington Tours, described western Canada as a bucket-list destination. But the company now has 49 trips that were supposed to pass through Jasper this season in limbo. Six others were forced to evacuate the park when the fire hit.

Parks Canada has cancelled all camping reservations within Jasper National Park until Aug. 6 and with potentially 50% of the town's structures destroyed by fire, the cleanup and rebuild could take years.

Halpenny is among those hedging their bets.

"I've booked a campsite stay in the mountain parks but at the same time, I booked a campsite out on the prairie somewhere and that's my backup plan because I don't want to miss out on my vacation with my family."