The Saudi Ministry of Finance and National Economy has signed a supervision agreement for the execution of the SR512.8 million ($136.7 million) North-South railway project with Louis Berger Group of the US, Systra of France, Canarail of Canada and Saudi Consolidated Engineering Company (SCEC) and Khatib and Alami of Saudi Arabia.

The project extends from Haditha at the border of Saudi Arabia with Jordan to Riyadh passing through Jouf, Hail, Gassim and Sudair. The railway will connect the northern region (Hizam Al-Jalamid), Hail region (Azzabira) to transport phosphates and bauxite to Ras Azzur in the northern-eastern part of the kingdom, then to Jubail with a total length of 2,400 km.
The contract includes the construction, supervision, provision of technical support to manufacture and supply the rolling stocks, passenger stations, shipment yards, and detailed design of signalling and control system.
Signing of 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. The construction period is 75 months.