With 6 automated lines, the world-class Riyadh Metro was inaugurated on November 27. The metro network is transforming the modes of urban transport of the capital of the Kingdom and its inhabitants. Egis, as a member of the Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants (RMTC) consortium, was responsible for overseeing the management, design, construction and commissioning of the Blue, Red and Orange lines (lines 1, 2 and 3) of the network on behalf of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).
Transforming modes of transportation in a growing city
The new public transport network includes 183 trains serving 85 stations over a total of 176 km, complemented by a bus rapid transit (BRT) system. With an initial capacity of 1.1 million daily passengers and a maximum capacity of 3.6 million passengers, it will significantly relieve road traffic and improve air quality by limiting the use of private vehicles.
Designed to respond to the rapid growth of Riyadh’s population, the network aligns with the main pillars of Vision 2030, the strategic line of the Saudi government, in terms of competitiveness on the global stage, urban development and improvement of quality of life.
Based on a Level 4 automated system (next generation technology that operates without on-board personnel for operation and maintenance), the metro guarantees high levels of safety and comfort for passengers, as well as accessibility for all .
Contributions d’Egis
The RMTC (Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants) consortium, made up of Egis, Parsons and Systra, was in charge of lines 1, 2 and 3, or 60% of the Riyadh metro project. This included 104 kilometers of rail infrastructure, including 55 standard rail stations, 5 main stations (4 of which are transfer centres), 5 depots and 4 park and ride facilities. Various methods were used for construction, such as bored tunnels and cut-and-cover tunnels with deep and shallow underground stations, viaducts with elevated stations, and ground-level rail and station designs.
Before joining the RMTC consortium, in 2012, Egis was responsible for the preliminary studies, including the design, the prequalification stages, the tender process, the evaluation of the proposals and the contractual negotiations, thus laying the foundations of the Riyadh metro project. In addition, Egis is currently working on the design of the extensions of the Red line (line 2) and a future line 7, thus ensuring the continuation of its strong partnership with the RCRC on the project.
With its heritage of global expertise and local impact, and with 50 years of experience in complex world-class rail and transportation projects, Egis offers comprehensive services to this flagship project.
Egis’ mission included design and construction supervision, procurement, planning, documentation, safety, quality control, communication, testing and commissioning, and contract administration. .
Throughout the project, Egis actively contributed to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by promoting economic diversification and knowledge transfer, with the aim of stimulating social and economic development, creating significant employment opportunities and empowering a new generation of professionals. The Group has advanced gender inclusion, allowing women to occupy important positions such as station manager and operational supervisor, thus becoming a driver of societal progress. The initiative also helped develop expertise in specialized areas such as armored door technology, through comprehensive training programs and access to higher education, elevating young Saudis to the ranks of global experts and strengthening the country’s technical skills.
Egis also worked closely with the RCRC to ensure that the project respected sustainable development objectives, by implementing eco-design principles and a carbon emissions reduction strategy. This included achieving Gold LEED certification for KAFD and Qasr Al Hokm stations and providing world-class infrastructure. This approach will help improve air quality, highlighting the importance of responsible infrastructure development.
Another central focus was station and train cooling systems. The Egis teams responsible for mechanics, electricity and public health (MEP), as well as rolling stock engineering, worked diligently with co-contractors to meet the requirements of comfort. In addition, MEP teams have obtained approval for fire safety and life protection systems for stations and tunnels, ensuring compliance with the strict standards of the United States National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the General Directorate of Civil Defense (GDCD).
Egis has implemented advanced methodologies, such as the Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) method, to ensure a reliable, sustainable and safe transport system for Riyadh. Passenger safety remained a top priority: Egis worked in partnership with the General Transport Authority, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the Independent Safety Assessors (ISA) and contractors, to thoroughly address all security issues.