Riyadh Metro
The Riyadh Metro (Arabic: مترو الرياض) is a part of King Abdulaziz's public transport project in Riyadh, which consists of trains and buses which will create 6 main metro lines that penetrate the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, from all directions. It includes 85 stations. The project cost $22.5 billion to build. It is scheduled to run in 2018.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Owner | High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh |
| Locale | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Transit type | Rapid transit |
| Number of lines | 6 (under construction) |
| Number of stations | 85 |
| Website | |
| Operation | |
| Operation will start | 2019 (planned) |
| Number of vehicles | 69 |
| Technical | |
| System length | 176 km (109 mi) (total) |
Contents
The Goals of the project[edit]
Estimates suggest that the number of Riyadh's population will grow about from 6 million to more than 8.5 million over the next 10 years.
This will require the provision of more effective alternative ways to meet the needs of the city from population growth and transportation.
About the project[edit]
The project includes the implementation of 6 railway lines stretching 176 kilometers. It runs on electricity. The trains are operated without drivers. It is the largest project for the public transportation system in the world. [?]
It is expected that the capacity of the project will reach 3.6 million passengers a day. After a few years from starting the project it will reach 1.16 million passengers in the beginning of the operation.
The expected benefits[edit]
The project will contribute to reducing the number of car trips by nearly 250 thousand trips a day, equivalent to 400 thousand liters of fuel per day, thus reducing the air pollutant emissions in the city.
The riyadh metro is a rapid transit system under construction in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It is currently being built by world's leading construction companies including Bechtel, FCC, Strukton, Salini Impregilo, Larsen and Toubro and Samsung. It is expected to be the backbone of the city's public transport system. Integrated with an 85-kilometre (53 mi) three-line bus rapid transit (BRT) network.[1]
Stations[edit]
It was identified to have 85 stations for the electric train, including a number of major stations where several tracks for a train meet, as designed on several levels according to modern architectural designs. These stations will be home to shopping centres and parking spaces.
The project has the approval of the award of four major stations' contracts located at the intersection subway tracks and buses and had fulfilled the designs of the metro security requirements and safety of passengers and facilities project.
Through the supply of vehicles and the stations' sophisticated systems for monitoring, powered by monitoring cameras and early warning systems and; fire extinguishers together with safety systems in the tunnels and communication systems that allow instant communication with the competent security authorities control center.
It have been identified main stations monorail sites, so where several tracks for a train meet, as designed on several levels according to modern architectural designs, and will be all air-conditioned and include comfort and safety of passengers, including systems, flight information.
Operating control center[edit]
The project includes the construction of an advanced center for the control and operation of the train traffic management and control, and monitor all elements of the system of stations and tracks and facilities and systems, and will provide the center with the latest operating control and monitoring systems.
Monorail project will also include technical specifications and high design, notably the use of automated rail system (without driver), choose the latest specifications and technologies to vehicles electric train in the world, which allows the separation of the vehicles from the inside, and the allocation of a special category for families, in addition to providing them with communication services and the exchange of information for passengers.
Feeding the project with electricity[edit]
It concluded that the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, an agreement with the Saudi Electricity Company, the implementation of the feed electric power train project, which is estimated B468 Maghaffolt amp, through 12 Chairperson in the city, including station four converter President will be established specifically for the project stations, in addition to eight train stations expansion.
Network[edit]
The Metro Project comprises the following six lines, as shown in figure 1:
- Line 1 (Blue Line) runs in the north-south direction along Olaya and Batha streets, starting from slightly north of King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Street and ending at in the south. The Metro will be mostly underground in a tunnel along Olaya and King Faisal Streets, and elevated on a viaduct along Batha Street and at the northern and southern ends. Line 1 extends over a length of approximately 38 km (24 mi) and features 22 stations, in addition to 4 transfer stations with Lines 2, 3, 5, and 4&6.
- Line 2 (Red Line) runs in the east-west direction along King Abdullah Road, between King Saud University and the eastern sub-center, mostly on a raised strip in the median of a planned freeway. This Line extends over a length of about 25.3 km (15.7 mi) and features 13 stations, in addition to 3 transfer stations with Lines 1, 5 and 6.
- Line 3 (Orange Line) runs in the east-west direction along Al–Madinah Al Munawwarah and Prince Saad Bin Abdulrahman Al Awal Roads, starting at the west near Jeddah Expressway and ending at the east near the National Guard camp of Khashm El Aan. The metro will be mostly elevated along the western part of Al–Madinah Al Munawwarah Road, then underground in tunnels in the central section of the line, and generally at grade along Prince Saad Ibn Abdulrahman Road. The length of the line is approximately 40.7 km (25.3 mi) and it features 20 stations, in addition to 2 transfer stations with Lines 1 and 6.
- Line 4 (Yellow Line) reaches to King Khalid International Airport from King Abdullah Financial District, mainly on a mix of elevated and at-grade alignment. The length of the line is around 29.6 km (18.4 mi) and it features 8 stations (3 common with Line 6), in addition to 1 transfer station with Lines 1 and 6.
- Line 5 (Green Line) runs underground in a tunnel along King Abdulaziz Street, between King Abdul Aziz Historical Centre and the Riyadh Airbase, before connecting with King Abdullah Road. The length of the line is about 12.9 km (8.0 mi) and it features 10 stations, in addition to 2 transfer stations with Lines 1 and 2.
- Line 6 (Purple Line) follows a half-ring starting at King Abdullah Financial District, passing by Imam Mohamed Bin Saud University and ending at Prince Saad Ibn Abdulrahman Al Awal Road. It runs mostly elevated except along Sheikh Hasan Bin Husein Bin Ali Street. The length of the line is approximately 29.9 km (18.6 mi) and it features 8 stations (3 common with Line 4), in addition to 3 transfer stations with Lines 1, 2 and 3.
The project was originally led by the late Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,[1] former Governor of Riyadh and Chairman of the Arriyadh Development Authority, and is now led by Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud, the current Governor of Riyadh.
Timeline[edit]
In June 2013, a shortlist of 3 major global consortia was chosen to build the metro.[2] Contracts were awarded in July 2013, with construction planned to start in 2014 and take 4 years.[3]
The groundbreaking ceremony was celebrated on April 4, 2014, with an opening now projected for 2018.[4]
Rolling stock[edit]
Siemens is to supply 45 4-car Inspiro trainsets for Line 1 and 29 2-car sets for Line 2.[5] The first was unveiled in Vienna on 23 February 2016.[5]
Alstom will deliver 69 Alstom Metropolis train sets[6] for Riyadh Metro.[7]
Bombardier Transportation will deliver 47 Bombardier Innovia Metro train sets for Line 3.[8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Riyadh metro project prequalification begins". Railway Gazette International. 18 May 2012.
- ^ "Three bidders shortlisted for Riyadh Metro project". International Railway Journal. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
- ^ "Riyadh metro construction contracts awarded". Railway Gazette International. 29 July 2013.
- ^ "Groundbreaking ceremony launches construction of Riyadh metro". Railway Gazette International. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ a b "First Riyadh metro trainset unveiled by Siemens". Railway Gazette International. 23 February 2016.
- ^ "Alstom awarded a turnkey metro project by the city of Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". 29 July 2013.
- ^ Riyadh Metro on railway-technology.com
- ^ Article on Bombardier website
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Riyadh Metro. |
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