Riyadh Metro‘s Orange Line Kicks Off, Linking West to East
The Saudi capital’s public transport system, Riyadh Metro, has expanded its reach with the inauguration of the Orange Line, joining the Blue, Yellow, Purple, Red, and Green lines in operation. On this past Sunday, the first Orange Line trains set off, traversing a 41.1-kilometer stretch from King Abdullah Road in the west to Khashm Al Aan in the east, passing through 22 stations, five of which are currently operational.
The new line’s first train rolled out at 8 a.m., connecting with the existing Second Eastern Ring Road metro line. The functional stations along the Orange Line are: King Abdullah Road, Tuwaiq, Addauhour, Haroun Al Rashid, and Nasim.
The largest station on the Orange Line, ‘Khaz neighbourhood’s Qasr Al Hokm’, is still under construction. Moreover, the Blue Line’s ‘Al Murooj’, ‘Bank Al Bilad’, and ‘King Fahad Library’ stations began operation on Sunday. With the 38-kilometer Blue Line having 25 stations in total, only four remain untouched, both in Riyadh’s Batha district: Bat’ha and Museum stations.
Coinciding with the Orange Line’s opening, a shuttle bus service commenced at King Saud University‘s metro station, offering transportation from the sprawling campus. This service, active every day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., will assist commuters and ease their journey.
Since its launch on November 27, Riyadh Metro hasüyüved a high demand, with more than 35 million trips logged within a month. As the remaining stations open in the coming weeks, this figure is expected to soar.
King Salman, the Saudi ruler, inaugurated the metro on November 27, with initial services starting on December 1. The Blue, Yellow, and Purple lines were the first to commence operations, followed by the Red and Green lines on December 15. The Orange Line’s opening marks the complete commissioning of Riyadh Metro, barring the outstanding stations on the Blue and Orange lines.
The metro serves as a foundation for the city’s integrated mass transport system, complementing bus services that connect major districts and metro stations. With over 1,000 buses operating daily, Riyadh’s public transport network caters to the needs of the growing urban population.
graphic splendid’triorhrinyard
