Riyadh Metro is reportedly the world’s most extensive new rapid transit system currently being built in Saudi Arabia’s most populous city
High performance fasteners and rivets supplied by the UK division of SFS are being used in the construction of the Riyadh Metro, the world’s most extensive new rapid transit system currently being built in Saudi Arabia’s most populous city.
The new network will provide a sustainable transportation solution to accommodate the rapidly growing urban area, which is projected to grow from its current 6 million inhabitants to 8.3 million in 2030. Scheduled to open in 2019, the Riyadh Metro system will consist of six metro lines, complete with 85 new stations and maintenance sheds for each line spanning a total length of 176km.
With project build costs of approximately $22.5 billion, the large-scale development utilises technology, products and services from global leaders in their respective fields to ensure the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) delivers a rapid transit network that will be the envy of cities across the world.
Crucial to the smooth operation of the network’s Siemens and Bombardier rolling stock are the maintenance depots serving each of the six tram lines. Here, SFS UK has been commissioned to supply construction fasteners for three of the six maintenance buildings in a contract totalling over £1 million in direct sales.
The building envelope contract for maintenance sheds to Lines 1 (North South Blue Line) and 2 (East-West Red Line) were secured by Arabian Profiles in Sharjah. They installed their Aluminium Aluform standing seam with SFS SX3 A4 halter fasteners, and SXC sandwich panel fasteners for the Zamil panels on the walls.
Dark Globe from Saudi Arabia secured the contract for Line 3 (East West Orange Line) on the East Line Depot, with the main contractor Salini – a joint venture from Italy – choosing to purchase the fasteners directly. Over 550,000 SFS AP14 painted rivets were specified by the architects for fixing the internal decking and 100,000 TDB-S fasteners were used to fix the decking into the 25mm thick steel. Kalzip fasteners were supplied on both lines.
Pete Hamby, SFS regional manager for the Middle East, said: “The Riyadh Metro has been an exciting project to be involved in as it is so important to the city’s sustainable growth ambitions. Our team has worked extremely well to rise to the challenges of this demanding project – both in terms of the technical element with on-site pull out tests required by the client, and on the supply chain element in meeting the delivery schedule of a tight programme.”
Riyadh’s Metro is set to be a very successful project, and looks set to help the local economy to thrive and contribute to the reduction of car trips by nearly 250 thousand trips a day. This is equivalent to saving 400 thousand litres of fuel per day, thus reducing the air pollutant emissions in the city. It is expected that the capacity of the project will reach 3.6 million passengers a day to accommodate the city’s growth over the next ten years and be future-ready.
