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 Achievement Award Laureate
    January 5, 2016
    As a key engineering project on the Changsha-Chongqing Expressway in Southwest China, the Aizhai Bridge, constructed by the Hunan Road & Bridge Construction Group, was opened to traffic in March 2012. The Aizhai Bridge crosses the 1000m-wide scenic Dehang Canyon at an elevation of 355m. It has a main span of 1,176m, making it the world’s longest canyon-crossing bridge in the world. The erection of the main girder (the stiffening girder) of the Aizhai Bridge encountered serious challenges, including a la
  • IRF Global Achievement Awards application deadline is nearing
    April 13, 2015
    Applications for this year’s 2015 IRF Global Achievement Awards are due May 2. The IRF's one-of-a-kind competition recognises innovative road projects across 12 categories. This year there is an updated entry category, Asset Preservation and Maintenance Management. This category has been expanded with the addition of asset preservation criteria. Innovate asset preservation solutions combined with effective maintenance management programmes are essential pillars of economic, fiduciary and environmen
  • Kosovo motorway wins IRF award
    May 30, 2013
    Kosovo’s Route 7 Motorway is an 84km dual carriage motorway that will span Kosovo from the southwest border with Albania to the capital city of Pristina, tying the heart of Kosovo to the Albanian port city of Durres. This motorway is part of the pan-European motorway network for Southeast Europe and provides a key trade corridor. In November 2011, Bechtel-Enka General Partnership (BEGP) successfully delivered 38km to the people of Kosovo, only 19 months after the contract award. The second main achievement
  • Riyadh’s transport infrastructure upgrade programme
    August 29, 2013
    IRF chairman and mayor of Riyadh, Eng Abdullah A Almogbel, discusses the city’s massive infrastructure investment and the pressing need for this development work Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh is fast growing with a pressing need for additional transport infrastructure resulting in a massive investment programme. The oil industry has fuelled Riyadh’s rapid expansion from being a medium sized town just 100 years ago, to its status as a major city today. With the explosion in vehicle use during the 20th ce