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

  • Developing Brazil's transport infrastructure
    February 16, 2012
    The IRF and ABCR spoke with World Highways about the upcoming 7th Brazilian Congress on Highways and Concessions event
  • Finding inspiration to save lives, one driver at a time
    January 27, 2017
    Internationally renowned road safety expert Mike Dreznes gives a personal comment on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims The IRF associates itself to the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year. This is to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected. Travelling a significant amount of time around the globe every year, I s
  • GRAA Winner Profile: Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor project
    June 7, 2023
    The Samuel De Champlain Bridge Corridor in Montreal, Canada is a complex project which includes one of the largest bridge projects in North America, the $4.2 billion signature cable-stayed Samuel De Champlain Bridge, as well as a new Île-des-Soeurs Bridge, reconstruction and widening of the federal portion of Autoroute 15, a 2,044m west approach, and a 762m east approach.
  • 18th IRF World Meeting & Exhibition Draws Global Stakeholders to Dubai
    January 20, 2022
    The 18th IRF World Meeting & Exhibition, a four-day global summit and technology showcase in Dubai, UAE, came to a close on November 10th, 2021. The culmination was a renewed call for consensus-building and knowledge partnerships in industry to address key sustainability and mobility challenges.