The long awaited Riyadh Metro is expected to launch the first phase of operations on three of its six lines this week (November 27).
Approved by the Saudi Council of Ministers in April 2012 and awarded to three global consortiums in 2013, the Riyadh Metro is a $22.5 billion project that, when fully completed, will consist of six lines, 84 stations and a total length of 109 miles (176 kms). It will be the world’s longest longest driverless metro system projected to reduce vehicular traffic in Riyadh by 20% to 30%.
Solar panels installed at stations and depots will generate 20% of the energy required for critical systems and, once all six lines are operational, the Riyadh Metro will run entirely on renewable energy.
In its first phase, the metro is projected to have up to 1.2 million passengers a day, and more than twice that figure once completed. The metro will also be linked to 80 bus routes spanning the city of Riyadh. The transport network is intended to reduce congestion and ease transport for Riyadh’s growing population which is expected to grow from 7.5 million in 2023 to 15 to 20 million by 2030.
The first three lines opening this month are:
Line 1 (Blue Line): Connecting Al-Orouba to Al-Batha, offering a vital north-south axis.
Line 2 (Red Line): Spanning King Khalid Airport Road, bridging the city’s heart with its major international gateway.
Line 3 (Orange Line): Linking the intersection of Abdulrahman bin Auf with Sheikh Hassan bin Hussein, enhancing connectivity in eastern Riyadh.
The remaining three lines are expected to open in mid-December. These will be the King Abdullah Road, Al Madina, and King Abdulaziz Road routes.
The three consortiums are:
BACS: Bechtel / Almabani / CCC / Siemens
ANM: (Arriyadh New Mobility): Webuild (at the time of signature, Impregilo, then Salini-Impregilo) / Bombardier / Ansaldo / Larsen & Toubro / Nesma & Partners / WorleyParsons
FAST: FCC / Atkins / Alstom / Samsung C&T / Strukton / TYPSA (Tecnica Y Proyectos)
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