Riyadh: The first phase of the Riyadh Metro was officially launched, marking a pivotal development in the public transport system of the Saudi capital. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud inaugurated the project, which aims to serve as the backbone of Riyadh’s public transportation network, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The metro system will feature six train lines covering 176 kilometers and 85 stations, including four major hubs. The SPA announced that three of these lines will be accessible to the public starting December 1, with additional lines to be gradually introduced as the network expands throughout the city.
During the inauguration, King Salman emphasized that the Riyadh Public Transport Project, which encompasses both metro and bus services, was initiated based on studies conducted by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to assess the city’s current and future transportation needs.
The Riyadh Metro is the second metro system in Saudi Arabia, following the first line established in Mecca, which operates solely during the Hajj season. Once fully operational, the Riyadh Metro is projected to become the largest metro system in the world completed in a single phase and will feature the longest driverless metro line globally.
Designed to address Riyadh’s social, environmental, and urban needs, the metro is expected to significantly enhance urban mobility within the city, as reported by the SPA.