RIYADH — Marking a new era in public transport for the Saudi capital city, the Riyadh Metro started operations officially across three lines on Sunday morning. The Riyadh Metro, the largest in the Middle East and the longest driverless train in the world, began receiving passengers this morning, thus starting to provide them with a seamless and efficient commuting experience. The three lines that have started operations in the initial phase are the 1st line (Blue Line); 4th line (Yellow Line); and the 6th line (Purple Line). The Blue Line connects the Olaya Street to Batha; the Yellow Line runs along the King Khalid International Airport Road while the Purple Line connects Abdul Rahman bin Awf Road with Al-Shaikh Hassan bin Hussain Road. Two weeks later on December 15, Line 2, (Red Line) that covers King Abdullah Road, and Line 5 (Green Line) that covers King Abdulaziz Road will begin their operations. The culmination of this phased rollout will occur on January 5, 2025, with Line 3 (Orange Line) covering Madinah Road, marking the full activation of all six lines. The Riyadh Metro project consists of an extensive network of six main lines, spanning 176 kilometers and connecting 85 stations, including 4 main stations. Passengers can plan their trips and buy tickets via Darb Application, provided by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) for smartphone users, or directly through the ticket windows and vending machines at the metro stations. More details about the train service can be had through contacting the unified call center for public transportation on the number 19933, or visit the Riyadh Train website on the Internet, or accounts on social media networks. The metro project, which was inaugurated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Nov. 27, is expected to reduce traffic congestion in Riyadh by 30 percent, according to RCRC sources.
