Saudi Arabia marked a major milestone with the launch of the first phase of the Riyadh Metro, aiming to revolutionize the public transport system in its capital city. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud officially inaugurated the project, which is set to become the backbone of Riyadh’s transport network, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The Riyadh Metro comprises six lines stretching 176 kilometers and features 85 stations, including four central hubs. The initial three lines will open to passengers on December 1, with the rest of the network to follow in phased launches, SPA confirmed.
King Salman highlighted that the Riyadh Public Transport Project, encompassing metro and bus networks, was developed after extensive studies by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to address both current and future transport demands.
Once fully operational, the Riyadh Metro will be the second in Saudi Arabia, following Mecca’s seasonal metro line. It is projected to be the largest metro system completed in a single phase and will boast the world’s longest driverless metro line.
