Riyadh aims to build world’s biggest public transport system in five years

The City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is building the world's largest public transit system --- in just five years. It will be presenting the project at the Palais des Congrès, in Montreal, Quebec, during the global summit of the Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP), this week. Managed by The High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (HCDA), the project includes six metro lines covering 176 km and 85 stations, in addition to 24 bus routes covering 1,900 km and 3,000 stations and stops. At a
May 15, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is building the world's largest public transit system --- in just five years. It will be presenting the project at the Palais des Congrès, in Montreal, Quebec, during the global summit of the Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP), this week.


Managed by The High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (HCDA), the project includes six metro lines covering 176 km and 85 stations, in addition to 24 bus routes covering 1,900 km and 3,000 stations and stops. At a total cost of US$27 billion, it is Saudi Arabia's first public transportation network and the largest infrastructure project worldwide.

Riyadh's population of 6.5 million today is expected to reach 8.3 million by 2030. Its streets currently handle 9 million car trips daily, increasing the need for a public transit network.

For its rolling stock, HCDA commissioned three different global manufacturers: 189 Siemens, 513 Bombardier and 8158 Alstom.  1685 Mercedes Benz and 267 MAN will provide its fleet of buses.

Construction of the project will finish at the end of 2018. Testing of the service will start simultaneously in the last quarter of the same year, with the objective to begin service to the public in the second half of 2019.

Related Content

  • December 4, 2012
    Success of London's Olympic public transport systems
    The Olympic flame has moved on, allowing review of the relative degrees of London’s 2012 transportation success, how it was done and with what lasting effects. Jon Masters reports. This magazine’s international position provides a good vantage point for assessing impressions left by London’s 2012 Olympic Games. On the whole, it has been only praise and congratulations heard since the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in August and the Paralympics in September. The events looked great and ran smoothly
    Read More
  • January 17, 2020
    LA Metro seeks to attract more bus riders
    Transport authorities in Los Angeles are trying to attract more people to bus services in a bid to halt falling ridership and entice drivers out of their cars.
    Read More
  • March 16, 2015
    Egis, Systra to carry out design studies for Medina metro
    The Medina Metro Development Authority (MMDA) has awarded Egis, in association with Systra, a contract to carry out the design studies for the future metro network in Medina. The contract covers three lines (green, blue, red) stretching a total of 95 kilometres, including 25 kilometres underground and 48 kilometres overhead. The project is part of an ambitious plan initiated over the past few years by Saudi Arabia to develop and modernise its transport infrastructure. As the second holy city in the country,
    Read More
  • February 27, 2013
    Consortium wins Polish rail modernisation contract
    A consortium led by Bombardier Transportation in partnership with Thales and Nokia Siemens Networks has won the US$146 million contract to modernise the signalling of the 350 km long E65 railway line linking Warsaw and Gdynia. The need to comply with the standards of the trans-European transport network linking the north and south of Europe makes the contract is one of the most important investments of PKP, the Polish railway lines operator. The consortium claims the modernisation will enhance safety and in
    Read More

Highlighted Content