Saudi Railway Polytechnic (SRP) in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, and Siemens, a technology leader, recently launched a three-year ‘Rail Technician’ training programme with the first batch of 40 local talents.

The students will be trained in rail signalling, electrification, communication systems and operations, said a statement.

The customised training programme incorporates aspects of Siemens rail curriculum from Germany, and combines theoretical and practical components in a dual education approach, it said.

The launch of the training programme follows the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year by the technical and vocational training corporation and Siemens, in the presence of HM King Salman and Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The MoU outlines the intent to roll out a vocational education concept modelled around the German dual education system. At the end of the programme, the students will graduate as Rail Technicians capable of servicing and maintaining digital rail infrastructure, it added.

Engineer Abdulaziz Alsogair, director of the Saudi Railway Polytechnic, said: “As an important pillar of Vision 2030, the railway sector has developed remarkably and connected virtually all of the country in a very short span of time.”

“We seek to develop and integrate the trainees from this programme into a wide range of technical areas within railways. We express our gratitude to Siemens for their commitment to this endeavour and look forward to a sustainable relationship in the future,” he said.

Arja Talakar, CEO of Siemens Saudi Arabia, said: “This is another great milestone for the kingdom. Together with the Saudi Railway Polytechnic, we are developing talent for a diverse Saudi Arabian economy in line with Vision 2030.”

“Our students are preparing themselves to become tomorrow’s experts in the field of digital rail technology, and we are honoured to work with them towards achieving their career aspirations,” Talakar said.

Rapid urbanisation in Saudi Arabian cities and the goal to increase capacity to welcome 30 million Umrah visitors annually, will drive the demand for reliable, efficient and safe transport networks in Saudi Arabia.

Siemens is therefore working closely with its partners to provide advanced technologies such as the driverless metro system in Riyadh, which is a masterpiece for digitalisation in cities. Of course, such infrastructure must be serviced and maintained, and the training programme is geared to equip students with the right knowledge and skills sets for this.  

Saudi Railway Polytechnic was launched in partnership with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation four years ago to develop local technical resources for the rail sector.

The institute focuses on electrical, mechanical, civil engineering, signalling and telecommunications, rolling stock maintenance and train driving, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service