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

  • February 28, 2013
    Init scoops passenger information project in Canada
    In a contract worth US$59 million, German telematics specialist Init is to supply a fleet management system for iBus, one of the largest public transport projects in Canada currently being launched by Société de Transport de Montréal (STM). STM, the main transit authority in the second most important economic region in Canada is modernising and enhancing its operations over the next few years. At the heart of this is a fleet management and real-time passenger information system with state-of-the-art vehicle
    Read More
  • January 29, 2019
    Mercedes-Benz to trial electric buses in two German cities
    Mercedes-Benz has supplied three fully-electric buses to German municipal transport company Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr (RNV) to help improve air quality in the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg. Dr. Peter Kurz, mayor of Mannheim, says: “The electrification of buses is now an important milestone on the way to a clean city and will make local public transport significantly more attractive.” The first eCitaro bus will operate in Heidelberg, travelling from the main train station to the Altstadt commuter rail stati
    Read More
  • April 27, 2016
    Joint venture to develop advanced public transport systems for UAE
    RATP Dev, the international subsidiary of French state-owned public transport operator RATP Group, and Zain Capital, part of the Lakhraim Business Group, have established a new joint venture in the UAE to provide advanced public transportation solutions. RATP Dev Transportation will be based in Abu Dhabi. In June 2015, RATP Dev signed a partnership with Lakhraim Business Group to set up a joint venture targeting the leading transport projects in the UAE. RATP Dev is currently working on large-scale projects
    Read More
  • March 20, 2024
    Thales receives signal contract to modernise Montreal Métro
    CBTC deal will include putting SelTrac signalling solution on new extension of blue Line
    Read More

Highlighted Content