Skip to main content

IRF Global Road Achievement Awards Laureate – Riyadh people mover

The Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) has always understood the IRF vision of “Better Roads. Better World” not only as a commitment to a most critical mode of transportation but also as part of an efficient and total transportation system and support services. The objective is always Mobility of People, Commodities and Ideas with safety of users and service providers as a high priority. Here, SBG provides complete mobility by combining an automated people mover with roads and pedestrian facilities within the u
May 19, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
The Automated People Mover is the first Light Rail Transit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
RSSThe 2800 Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) has always understood the 3918 IRF Washington vision of “Better Roads. Better World” not only as a commitment to a most critical mode of transportation but also as part of an efficient and total transportation system and support services.

The objective is always Mobility of People, Commodities and Ideas with safety of users and service providers as a high priority. Here, SBG provides complete mobility by combining an automated people mover with roads and pedestrian facilities within the university, and with outside roads and the future Riyadh metro.

The Automated People Mover represents the first Light Rail Transit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This project is a state-of-the-art complex system made safe and user-friendly. It represents all the good attributes of a perfect mobility system with Safety, Low Life Cycle Cost, Efficiency, Zero-Carbon footprint, and Driverless operation. It was developed by successfully mobilising a world-class specialist work force and procuring advanced specialty hardware, software, and services. The inauguration of this project, completed and delivered on time, by the late King Abdullah confirms the importance of this national landmark.

The Fully Automatic Train Control System operations are accomplished by a combination of elements located on the train, along the wayside (Third Rail), in stations and at remote Central Control facilities. These elements interact to form a command and control system with four major operations: Automatic Train Protection (ATP): to prevent collisions and derailments; Automatic Train Operation (ATO): the automatic control of train movement and stopping at stations; Automatic Train Supervision (ATS): Control of the direction of train movement in relation to the train movement schedule / timetable; and Communication – the interchange of information among elements of the system and the “intelligent” interaction of several subsystems and equipment. The entire system is controlled by a modern High-Tec Operation Control Centre (OCC) which is located in the Depot Area (Maintenance and Storage Facility).

The Automated People Mover operates on an elevated guide-way / viaduct that separates the movement of its cars from vehicular and pedestrian movement on the University Campus, and provides dedicated and separate service. Since its start of service on 1st September 2012 the APM has travelled 2.7 million kilometers and carried 10.9 million passengers without a single accident, injury, or loss of life.

“This IRF Global Road Achievement Award is for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Ministry of Finance. The Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) is honoured to be a partner in this landmark project,” said Mohammed M Binladin, deputy chairman and general manager for public relations, Saudi Binladin Group.

2016 GRAA Applications due April 16 Apply online and view the 2015 winners at www.IRFnews.org/graa

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • High fatality rates around the world
    March 13, 2014
    In 2010, global road traffic injuries resulted in 1.3 million deaths and were the eighth leading cause of death, with 90% of fatal injuries taking place in low- and middle-income countries At the root of this crisis in the developing world are persisting managerial and technical capacity weaknesses. For many fast-motorising countries, fragmented legislation, poorly targeted funding, ineffective institutional leadership, and outdated road engineering practices could all translate into failure to meet road
  • UAE system: IRF Global Road Achievement Awards Laureate
    March 8, 2016
    UAE’s Pavement and Asset Management System. The Federal Road Network of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) comprises 670km of roads, mainly highways, with 3,100 lane-km. These roads connect the Northern Emirates (Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaima, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwaim) with the Emirate of Dubai and Oman. Knowing the importance of preserving these strategic road links, the UAE’s Ministry of Public Works started the implementation of an Asset and Pavement System in June 2012. The Road Department embarked on
  • Key IRF event for Middle East
    March 2, 2012
    The International Road Federation's event in the Gulf & Middle East Region in the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain comes amid calls for efforts to meet the challenges posed by the region's growing demand for mobility and movement of goods.
  • TransCore and New York City DOT win prestigious IRF award
    January 17, 2013
    TransCore and the New York City Department of Transportation have been presented with the prestigious International Road Federation (IRF) Global Road Achievement Award (GRAA) for deployment of the midtown in motion adaptive signal control system. The GRAA is a leading international competition to identify and honour excellence, innovation, and exceptional achievement. This year’s awards honoured ten projects from countries around the world, with NYCDOT and TransCore receiving the award for excellence in int