Riyadh ultramodern metro system defines the city structure

Investment_Arriyadh_2013131Riyadh, the capital and the largest city in Saudi Arabia, has a population of almost 6 million people and, according to estimates, the population is expected to rise to over 8 million by 2030. Urbanisation, as well as the continuous development of economy impose new challenges to providing mobility services to meet the demand. The city faces traffic congestion and the public transport system focuses on road transport services, but the authorities have become aware of the importance of providing a public transport system to tackle all these issues.

In this context, the authorities have launched the project on the construction of Riyadh metro network with a total length of 175 km with stations equipped with air-conditioning. After the finalization of the entire project of re-thinking the public transport system (2020), there will be tens of transport hubs, metro lines intersecting in the city centre, surface transport lines exclusively dedicated to public transport permitting the citizens to benefit from modern, efficient and performing transport services and  from a decongested transport infrastructure.
The development of a new transport system consisting in the construction of 6 metro lines integrated with the network of rapid buses will revolutionise the entire design of the city and will determine both citizens and tourists to choose public transport services to the detriment of individual motorised transport. The metro system will increase the dynamism of the city’s economy and will improve the life quality of citizens by re-thinking transport demands oriented towards the public transport alternative. The development of the metro is one of the largest international infrastructure projects including the construction of 6 lines with a total length of 176.4 km (87 stations) to cross the busiest areas of the city.  The project has a total budget of USD 16.3 Billion and will be completed in 2020. The project is financed by the Saudi Government through the Public Investment Fund and the programme has been launched by Arriyadh (ADA) development authority. “Riyadh is one of the cities with the most dynamic development and citizens deserve a top-class public transport system that will help increase the  share of public transport and life quality. It will significantly reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality”, declared ADA President Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al Sultan.

Bidders from 50 countries

The programme will be implemented in three phases: the construction of lines 1 and 2 (phase I), the construction of line 3 (phase II) and the construction of lines 4, 5 and 6 (phase III). 38 consortia including 391 companies from 50 countries have applied for this project. The contract for the design and construction of lines 1 and 2 is worth USD 9.45 Billion and was granted to the consortium of Bechtel with Almabani General Contractors, Consolidated Contractors Co and Siemens. Siemens’ share in the contract is worth EUR 1.5 Billion and includes the rolling stock supply (74 Inspiro trains), as well as signalling and electrification equipment. The new lines will have stations supplied with renewable energy and trains will be fully automated. The rich design of stations reflects the architecture and the city’s move towards an ultramodern society.
Arriyadh New Mobility consortium (ANM) won the contract on the design and construction of line 3 worth USD 5.21 Billion. The electric and mechanic equipment will be delivered by Ansaldo STS and Bombardier and infrastructure works will be provided by Civil Work Group of Salini-Impregilo, Larsen & Toubro and Nesma. Bombardier’s share in the contract amounts to USD 383 Million for the supply of 47 driverless Innovia Metro 300 trains equipped with Bombardier Mitrac propulsion technology. Ansaldo STS, leader of the consortium, has a share of USD 680 Million and will have to supply the third-rail supply automated systems, CBTC, and control centre. Moreover, the consortium will build  Qasr Al Hokm stations and western stations. Works will amount to USD 5.9 Billion. The contract could be extended to provide the maintenance of the line.
Parsons, Egis and Systra, members of the Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants JV,  won the USD 556 Million contract on project management and supervision of construction works to lines 1, 2 and 3.
In April 2014, two months earlier than estimated, construction works to the development of phase I of the fourth Riyadh Metro network were initiated. Works began by building the 4 G1 station on line 4, located at Khaled King International Airport in Riyadh. Phase I includes the integration of three metro stations to the airport, station 4 G1 serving terminal 5. Line 4 will connect the financial district of the city to the airport and will be built by FAST consortium led by FCC which will also develop metro lines 5 and 6 for EUR 6 Billion. Apart from FCC, the consortium includes: Samsung, Alstom, Strukton (Netherlands), Freyssinet (Saudi Arabia), Typsa (Spain), Atkins (Great Britain) and Setec (France).
The contract includes the design and construction of lines, as well as the delivery of rolling stock for the three lines. The construction includes 65 km of line: 24 km of viaducts, 28 km of underground line and 13 km of surface line. Alstom’s share amounts to USD 1.2 Billion and includes the supply of 69 Metropolis trains, Urbalis signalling system, HESOP energy recovery system, and Appitrack technology for track installation.
For project management and works to the project, at the middle of 2013 ADA announced that the JV including Louis Berger and Hill International won the USD 265 Million contract of which Loius Berger will control 55% and Hill International 45%.

[ by Pamela Luică ]
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