KRAKOW, Poland — The Riyadh metro project, one of the world’s largest urban transport ventures, aims to lift up to 3 million commuters off the road to relieve traffic congestion, officials from the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh announced at a press conference at Alstom’s manufacturing facilities here.
“We are on schedule. We reached 48% completion and we believe the metro will start operating by early 2019 with no delay,” said Khalid Alhazani, director of the architectural project program and public affairs at Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA).
The Riyadh metro is the world’s largest turnkey metro project and cost $23 billion to develop six lines including 85 stations expanding over the city with 176 km. The turnkey system approach entails complete system capability, including signaling, electrification, trackwork and maintenance services.
The first 2-car trainset was shipped in January and the second one will arrive in Riyadh this month.
Alstom is one of three metro suppliers developing the project and is currently providing its integrated metro system for three out of six lines since 2014.
Riyadh’s residents and visitors will not need a car, says Alhazani. The metro along with the 24-line bus network under the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport aims to meet the demands of the growing population which is estimated to increase from 6 million to over 8 million residents by 2030. More info
By Layan Damanhouri saudigazette.com.sa
