ROME (ITALPRESS) – Six lines along 176 kilometres, 90 stations served, and a transport capacity of up to 1.1 million passengers per day. The first metro has commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the FS Group is following the project. Engaged in the works since 2018, in partnership with Ansaldo STS (Hitachi Rail STS) and Alstom as part of the FLOW Consortium, the Group has been awarded the operation and maintenance services of lines 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Riyadh metro for 12 years.
At the beginning of this year, line 3, the Orange Line, was inaugurated. It is the longest with over 40 kilometers, and its iconic Qasr Al Hokm Downtown station which was designed by Crew, a company that forms part of the FS Group.
The station was created as an urban square with a large stainless steel canopy that provides shade to the surrounding public spaces and channels daylight toward the subway station below. The steel canopy rests on a conical reinforced concrete wall that defines the internal architecture of the station. With its distinctive triangular entrances, designed to interpret the history and architecture of Saudi Arabia, it provides a strong and solid connection between the modern metro network and the historical context.
The new public transport project in the Saudi area will promote the transition from individual to collective mobility, resulting in a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. This sustainable model will transform the city of Ryadh into an example of innovation that can also be applied to other metropolises.
In Saudi Arabia, significant plans are being developed to upgrade infrastructure and public transport services, both locally and for long distances. In this context, the FS Group is present through the engineering companies Italferr and Italcertifer, the latter specializing in railway certification of both infrastructure and transport carriers. Intending to expand its activities in the MENA area (Middle East and North Africa), in 2019 FS Italiane established the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Saudi Arabia for a land transport company in Riyadh, to operationally support FS Holding in the management of the Riyadh metro project. Furthermore, the FS Group constantly monitors local initiatives to evaluate any development opportunities.
– Photo Fs press office –
(ITALPRESS).
