Alstom has handed over the first of the 69 driverless two-car metro trainsets that will circulate on lines 4, 5, and 6 (Yellow, Green, and Purple lines) of the Riyadh Metro to the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA).
The first trainset manufactured by France’s Alstom was sent on its way by cargo ship to Saudi Arabia. In February, a further three trainsets were being tested and five were being built — so eight metro trainsets were in the production phase, leaving a pipeline of 60 left to produce.
Alstom is part of the Spanish FCC Construction-led FAST consortium that is in charge of supplying the full integrated metro system for the three lines, including 64.5km of track, 33km of viaduct and 29 stations, in a contract worth $6.4bn.
The entire metro will stretch for 176km long across six lines and between 85 stations and is worth $22.5bn, while Alstom’s share of the FAST contract is more than $1.3bn.
In terms of the specifications of the trains themselves, each unit is 36m long and comprises two aluminium-bodied cars that together are is suitable for accommodating up to 231 passengers.
The trainsets are 100% motorised, allowing them to run on track with slope gradients of up to six percent, and on the flat are designed to run on standard-gauge track at a top speed of 90km/h.
Alstom is also supplying its Urbalis signalling for the automatic train control and power supply, its Hesop braking energy recovery system, and its Appitrack mechanised solution for rail installation.
The latter system installs tracks three to four times faster than with traditional methods, reducing logistics, CO2 emissions, noise, dust and waste, and limiting the disturbance caused to road traffic.
Alongside FCC Construction and Alstom, the FAST consortium includes Samsung C&T, Strukton and Freysinnet.
Further reading
To read more about the production and delivery of the trainsets for the Riyadh Metro, see: Train Game
For more about the viaduct gantry installation work being carried out the consortium, see: The FAST Lane
For more on the TBM tunnelling work being carried out by the consortium on line 6, see: Belly of the beast
