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Joint venture wins Riyadh bus project management role

13 April 2023

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has awarded a joint venture of Canada-based SNC-Lavalin and Germany-headquartered Dorsch Hoding a project management services contract for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of its bus network as part of the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project in the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The deal includes managing all assets related to the automatic vehicle management (AVM) and automatic fare collection (AFC) systems and intelligent infrastructure through a computerised maintenance management system (CMMS).

SNC-Lavalin will use its digital solutions to analyse the data from the bus tracking system to increase the accuracy of the forecast demand and optimise the bus service delivery for the population of Riyadh.

In addition, a passenger guidance and information system will be used to increase the efficiency of the network operation, providing passengers with real-time updates about their trip and bus schedules.

Integrated transport project

The King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport consists of building, operating and developing a world-class rapid transport network for Riyadh, providing comfortable, affordable and time-saving mobility options for people living in the city.

The scheme will offer metro services and a comprehensive bus network. The project aims to contribute to solving traffic congestion. Ninety per cent of trips within the Saudi capital currently rely on cars.

In the initial operation phase, it will have a capacity of 1.7 million passengers daily.

The $23bn Riyadh Metro is the world’s largest public transport network project. It will feature six lines, with a total of 84 stations. 

The scheme is expected to be completed before the end of 2023, or at the start of 2024 at the latest. SNC-Lavalin has delivered programme management and supervision services for the O&M of the Riyadh Metro for the past four years.

The 1,890-kilometre Riyadh bus project will be fully integrated with the metro network and will include 80 routes and 2,860 bus stations served by 842 buses.

The overall bus network project includes 158km of the dedicated route for the bus rapid transit (BRT), which will run unimpeded by traffic.

The rest of the planned Riyadh bus network comprises the community (908km) and feeder (824km) bus routes.

With the capacity to transport over 500,000 passengers, the bus network will serve as a primary means of transportation within residential districts.

“The King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project is one of the most ambitious plans set by RCRC to provide integrated transport solutions, reduce carbon footprint, and enhance the quality of life for the people of Riyadh,” said SNC-Lavalin Middle East and Africa senior vice-president, projects and O&M, engineering services, Mohamed Youssef.

“By working closely with RCRC and our JV partner, we’ll ensure the project is delivered to the highest environmental, quality and safety standards by providing our engineering excellence, digital services and net zero solutions.”

In 2014, Public Transport Company (PTC), a joint venture of France’s RATP Dev and local Saudi Public Transport Company (Saptco), won the $1.77bn, 10-year contract to implement, operate and maintain Riyadh’s bus network.

The King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project began its first operation phase in March 2023.

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Eva Levesque

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