The Riyadh Metro announces a new expansion plan
A seventh line has been revealed…
This month, we’ve finally welcomed the highly anticipated Riyadh Metro. When construction first began in 2014, the plans included six lines and 85 stations, all working together with the Riyadh metro buses. Now, plans have been revealed for a seventh Riyadh Metro line too.
Announced by the Saudi Minister of Investment, Khalid Al Falih, and relayed by Mohammed H. AlQahtani, CEO of the Saudi Arabia Holding Co., the new expansion network will be done in collaboration with several French companies, with a total investment exceeding €20 billion.
Key points from the expansion plans include developing another network that is equivalent to the current one, to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors. The idea is to connect all of the areas in the capital through a unified public transportation system.
The seventh line of the Riyadh Metro is already garnering considerable interest, particularly because it plans to include routes to Qiddiya and Diriyah. According to Construction Week, the new plans span approximately 65 kilometres and feature 19 stations, 14 of which will be underground and five above ground.
The new line will then connect major new developments in the Kingdom such as Qiddiya Entertainment City, King Abdullah International Gardens, King Salman Park, New Murabba, Misk City and Diriyah Gate.
This is more than just an infrastructure revamp, though, as Minister Al-Falih said “This marks a leap towards creating a world-class transportation system.”
Currently, there are five fully functional Riyadh Metro lines; these include three major ones: Al-Olaya and Al-Batha (blue line), King Khalid International Airport Road (yellow line), and the intersection of Abdulrahman Bin Auf Street with Sheikh Hassan Bin Hussein Street (purple line). Plus the lines along King Abdullah Road (red line) and King Abdulaziz Road (green line) have now also launched this Sunday (December 15). The orange line will be operational by Sunday January 5.
Visit: rcrc.gov.sa