Line 3 is the longest line in Riyadh's metro network and runs for approximately 44 km, starting from the west (near the Jeddah Expressway) and ending in the east (near the National Guard Camp of Khashm El Aam) with 22 stations (including 2 iconic stations), divided into four different types. The contract also includes 2 depots and 6 interchange parking lots. The project aims to ensure sustainable and intermodal mobility: in fact, the metro will connect to the new bus network (BRT), the rail network and the airport, easing the modernization of transportation in the Kingdom's capital.

The trains that will run on it will have a maximum length of 36.7 m (2 carriages), a capacity of 267 passengers and a maximum speed of 100 km/h.

The assigned package is an integral part of the bigger project that concerns the parallel construction of an underground network that includes 6 lines with a total length of about 180 km.

The work is key for the city's future mobility, considering that its population, like that of the nation's, is estimated to rapidly grow in the forthcoming years, with a majority of people being under 30. The new metro will therefore reduce traffic congestion and lower pollution, since it will allow to limit the number of vehicles present on the city's streets, creating a sustainable and efficient means of transport. 

The project adopts the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard for Western Station and Downtown Station. The LEED standard is the energy and sustainability certification standard most widely used in the world, a system that evaluates sustainable infrastructure recognizing the achievement of certain credits in the different areas of sustainability upon achieving particular requirements.

Downtown Station is located near the palace of the Governor of Riyadh, in the heart of the city. It is one of the iconic stations of the route with two metro lines also crossing it. The station extends over a 20,000 m2 area. It was designed by the Norwegian Architecture firm Snøhetta with the Italian firms One-Works and Crew. The entrance will be covered by a large upside-down stainless steel cone, a one-of-a-kind work.

CLIENT: Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC)

CONTRACTOR: “ANM” consortium - Webuild (leader - Italy), L&T (India), Nesma (KSA), Hitachi (Italy/Japan), and Alstom (UK)