H.E Dr. Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al Assaf, the Minister of Finance and National Economy, Head of PIF Board of Directors signed a supervision agreement for the execution of the North–South Railway project with Louis Berger Group Inc. of America, SYSTRA, Canarail and Saudi Consolidated Engineering Co., (Khatib & Alami) of Saudi Arabia.

The project extends from Haditha point at the border line of Saudi Arabia with Hashemite kingdom of Jordan to Riyadh, passing through Jouf, Hail, Gassim and Sudair. The railway will connect the northern region (Hizam Al-Jalamid) to the Hail region (Azzabira) allowing the transportation of phosphates and bauxite to Ras Azzur in the northern-eastern part of the kingdom, then on to Jubail to a total length of 2,400 kms.

The total contract value is SR 512,879,032 equal to $ 136,767,742 and the construction period is 75 months.

The contract includes onsite construction supervision, provision of technical support to the manufacture and supply of rolling stock, passenger stations, shipment yards, detailed design of signaling and control systems.

Signing the Construction Supervision Agreement came after the completion of Phase-I, preparation of the detailed studies and designs of the project, performed by Canarail, SYSTRA and SCEC. The project will be tendered in an open international competition by a company owned by PIF.

This project will be of vital strategic importance to the national economy, as the processing of phosphates, which exists in commercial quantities, will place the kingdom second internationally in their export, besides accommodating fertilizer industry technology. It will also increase oil, agricultural and industrial products transportation, as well as goods and passengers. Moreover, the development of adjacent areas, cities, towns and villages where the railway line passes through, will consequently lead to the advancement of industries in the northern part of the kingdom.