Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Wednesday inaugurated the Riyadh Metro Project, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
SPA described the project as “the backbone of the Public Transport Network in Riyadh.” The project features advanced design and technical specifications, encompassing a network of six train lines spanning 176 kilometers (109 miles) and 85 stations, including four main hubs.
During the inauguration, King Salman viewed an introductory film detailing the project’s significance. SPA highlighted its role as one of the largest public transport initiatives globally, designed to cover the entire Riyadh area in a single phase.
The project, spearheaded by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City under the support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aligns with the goals of Vision 2030. It aims to enhance the quality of life for Riyadh’s residents, offering efficient public transportation while complementing the city’s social, environmental and urban landscape.
Three lines will open to the public on December 1, “with gradual launches completing the six-line, 176-kilometre network across the city,” the Royal Commission for Riyadh City said in a statement.
“The network has been developed to transport over 3.6 million passengers at maximum capacity and operates on a fully automated (driverless) metro system,” the statement said.
Services will be provided by 183 trains with 448 carriages manufactured by Siemens of Germany, Bombardier of Canada and Alstom of France, the statement said, adding that they feature “a modern and unified design” by French firm Avant Premiere.
