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

  • IRF Global Road Achievements award
    February 14, 2012
    IRF is now accepting entries for the 2010 edition of its annual awards competition, the Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA). The deadline for submission of projects is 31 May, 2010. IRF began this prestigious annual programme as a means to publicise the benefits the road industry makes to global economies and the positive impact road development has on societies around the world. Since the launch of the competition in 2000, more than 70 projects from two dozen countries have been recognised for their cont
  • IRF honours outstanding road achievements
    March 7, 2012
    The IRF presented 12 Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA), the 2008 Student Essay Competition winner, and three Lifetime Distinguished Service Awards at its Annual Awards Banquet at The Mayflower Hotel, Washington DC on 12 January.
  • IRF chairman appointed as Saudi Arabia’s minister of transport
    December 10, 2014
    Engineer Abdullah Al-Mogbel, chairman of the International Road Federation, has been appointed Saudi Arabia’s minister of transport. The appointment was made by royal order of His Majesty Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Chairman Al-Mogbel's appointment is the latest development in a wide ranging career, which began in 1978 as a project manager at the Ministry of Communications (later renamed the Ministry of Transport). This was at the onset of Saudi Arabia
  • IRF awards for road industry excellence
    February 15, 2012
    Eleven outstanding projects honoured for leading the way in road industry excellence. The winners of the 2010 Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA) Competition were recognised at the 10th Annual 25 January, 2011. Eleven projects from six different countries around the world were each honoured for leading the way in excellence in a respective category of the road industry.