Bombardier Transportation presented to Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh and Chairman of the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), the new INNOVIA Metro 300 design for the Riyadh Metro Line 3 (Orange) which has reached its final design stage on-time. Bombardier, a member of the ArRiyadh New Mobility Consortium (ANM), will supply 47 two-car INNOVIA Metros, custom-designed to reflect Saudi Arabia’s culture of beautiful design and in compliance with ADA’s technical requirements.

To create a world class metro for Riyadh, the INNOVIA Metro 300 vehicles will be equipped with proven technologies. TheBOMBARDIER MITRAC rotary motor propulsion delivers short travel times, high acceleration performance and train braking energy recovery. The BOMBARDIER FLEXX Eco bogies are lightweight and robust for reduced energy consumption and low lifecycle costs. The carbodies will be constructed from recyclable aluminium with a steel under-frame and composite end cap.

Attractive passenger friendly interiors will be fitted with three classes of accommodation: First class cars for families and singles, family-only cars and singles-only cars. Three bi-parting doors on each side of each car and spacious entrance areas will permit fast and safe boarding, while the walk-through gangways and wide aisles will help passenger flow and enhance safety. Comfortable seating is plentiful in all classes and passengers with restricted mobility have their own designated spaces. The large front windshield and side windows create a bright and comfortable aesthetic and provide a scenic view for passengers. Passenger information systems and advanced security features, such as on-board cameras and two-way communication systems, will further enhance the interior environment for passengers.

Speaking about the new metro, Philippe Casgrain, Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Systems Division at Bombardier Transportation said: “When public transit is attractive and reliable, then all socio-economic groups can be encouraged to move from road to rail. The appealing design of the driverless INNOVIA Metro 300 vehicles for Riyadh Metro is complemented by proven Bombardier technologies to provide fast, safe and comfortable travel for Riyadh’s citizens for many years to come.”

ADA is leading the implementation of the Riyadh Metro project. Six railway lines with a total route length of 176 km are being constructed at a cost of USD $22.5 billion. This massive investment is part of the Riyadh Public Transport Project (RPTP) and will establish a world class public transport network designed to entice Riyadh’s growing population out of their cars and onto public transit.

The ANM consortium is delivering Line 3 (Orange) as a complete turnkey solution in a contract worth USD $5.9 billion. ANM comprises of two groups who will design, build, construct and commission the new line. The electrical and mechanical equipment, including vehicles and signalling, will be delivered by the Electromechanical Work Group (EWG) whose members are Ansaldo STS and Bombardier Transportation. System infrastructure will be delivered by the Civil Work Group (CWG) whose members include Salini-Impregilo, Larsen & Toubro and Nesma.

Presence in Saudi Arabia

Bombardier Transportation has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is fully committed to building a strong local skill base there. In addition to Riyadh Metro, Bombardier is delivering other major projects in the Kingdom including the fully automated, driverless INNOVIA Monorail 300 system for the King Abdullah Financial District, the turnkey INNOVIA APM 300 automated people mover system at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and for the 450 km Haramain high-speed rail line between Mecca and Medina, Bombardier is supplying Talgo with the MITRAC 3000 propulsion equipment and FLEXX high speed bogies for the power-heads of the 35 very high speed trains which are currently under construction.