Islamabad, June 6, 2025: Saudi Railway Polytechnic (SRP) has launched its second phase of hiring female drivers for the Haramain High-Speed Train, receiving 38,000 applications for the 35 vanancies only.
This hiring drive is a broader effort aims to attract more women to become a part of the social transformation underway in the Kingdom since 2016 as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Haramain train, a 453km railway linking holy cities of Makkah and Medina and carries pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makkah, began its operation in October 2018.
To apply, applicants must be Saudi citizens between age 22 and 30, and required necessary academic qualifications including the standard English proficiency.
Training of selected candidates will start next month and will consist of 483 hours of technical instruction and 674 hours of practical training. Those who will successfully complete the training will be issued a train driving licence.
In the first round of recruiting female drivers for the Haramain train in 2022, 28,000 candidates had applied out of which 14,000 were shortlisted for in person examination at SRP in Qassim. A total of 34 were selected for the driver training programme, becoming the first female train drivers not only in Saudi Arabia but across the Middle East.
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Renfe KSA has also trained over 800 Saudi nationals for customer service roles at stations and onboard trains, as well as for ticketing and operations. Renfe says that over a third of its staff in Saudi Arabia a comprices of women, positioning the company as a pioneer for gender equality.
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“SRP’s work with Renfe has been of great value, contributing directly to meeting the objectives of Vision 2030 and training young Saudi citizens to contribute to the management, operation and maintenance of the Saudi railway industry,” says a statement presented to Renfe by the minister of transport.
