RIYADH: Hydrogen fueling stations will be built along select train routes in the Kingdom after Saudi Arabia Railways signed a memorandum of understanding with Air Products Qudra. The MoU establishes an engagement for prospective collaboration between both parties, whereby Air Products Qudra will build multiple hydrogen train fueling stations for SAR, according to a press release. The future hydrogen fueling stations will be built along the Riyadh to Al-Kharj, Dammam to Jubail, and Ras Al-Khair to Jubail train routes. The MoU is a part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to increase the use of clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, and protect the environment. The deal will also help the region accelerate its journey to ensure net-zero emissions by 2060. Air Products Qudra’s CEO Ebubekir Koyuncu said: “We are honored to collaborate with SAR and look forward to developing ways we can deploy our global expertise, experience, and world-class engineering capabilities to support SAR and the Kingdom’s vision.” He added: “Hydrogen is essential to the energy transition and is playing a crucial role in creating low-carbon, sustainable transportation.” In October, SAR had entered into an agreement with its French partner Alstom to commence testing for its hydrogen train project. SAR and Alstom will embark on operational experiments and studies to assess the trains’ compatibility with the environment, setting the stage for their future deployment, according to a Saudi Press Agency report. Following the agreement with Alstom, SAR CEO Bashar bin Khaled Al-Malik said that the hydrogen train stands as one of the most pivotal innovations in modern sustainable transport. The development came after SAR and Alstom signed a deal to develop hydrogen train solutions tailored for the Kingdom in September 2022. Air Products Qudra is a joint venture for the Middle East between Air Products and Qudra Energy. On its website, the company says that it helps countries in the region achieve net-zero targets. In March, NEOM’s water and electricity subsidiary ENOWA signed an agreement with Air Products Qudra to build, own, and operate the giga-project’s first hydrogen fueling station. The facility will help decarbonize heavy modes of transport covering buses and trucks.