King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud officially inaugurated the Riyadh Metro network on Wednesday.
With six fully-automated lines covering a combined length of 176km and 85 stations, the network – Saudi Arabia’s first underground railway project – is the Middle East’s largest metro system. The project involved more than 13 companies from around the world, and for many, it was one of the largest projects undertaken.
The Blue Line (Line 1) and Red Line (Line 2) were delivered by the BACS consortium comprising Bechtel, Almabani General Contractors, Consolidated Contractors Company and Siemens. The Orange Line (Line 3) was built by Arriyadh New Mobility (ANM) comprising Webuild, Bombardier, Ansaldo, Larsen & Toubro, Nsma & Partners and WorleyParsons. The FAST consortium, led by FCC with Samsung Samsung C&T, Alstom, Freyssinet Saudi Arabia, Atkins, Typsa and Setec, was responsible for the Yellow Line (Line 4), Green Line (Line 5) and Purple Line (Line 6).
Bechtel chairman and CEO Brendan Bechtel said the project pushed the boundaries of what was possible.
“Since breaking ground in 2014, the Riyadh Metro has been the world’s largest rail project under construction over the past decade or so – not to mention one of the largest in Bechtel’s history. The job site spanned 800m2, an area bigger than New York City,” he says in a blog on the company’s website.
While the Metro was a “triumph of engineering”, it was also a monument to collaboration and co-ordination, involving tens of thousands of people from different companies, cultures, and nationalities, says Bechtel.
Darren Mort, president of Bechtel’s infrastructure business, said the Riyadh Metro would transform travel in Saudi Arabia.
“As one of the most complex projects that Bechtel has ever undertaken, I am especially proud of our team for overcoming many technical challenges and completing this project with the utmost skill and ingenuity. Bechtel is honoured to have played a leading role in delivering this iconic metro network,” he said.
Webuild also celebrated its role in the project.
“We are very proud to have contributed to such an important project, supporting the development of a strategic piece of infrastructure for both the Kingdom and its capital city,” said Webuild chief executive Pietro Salini.
“The Riyadh Metro is the mirror of a city where tradition embraces modernity. The network will meet the needs of the Kingdom’s rapidly growing capital city, improving the quality of life of residents, helping to reduce congestion, and improving overall air quality. The project also serves as a model for new sustainable infrastructure, combining engineering excellence with aesthetic beauty.”
The metro will open in phases over the next two months. The Blue, Yellow and Purple lines will commence passenger operations on December 1, followed by the Red and Green lines on December 15 and the Orange line on January 5.
