Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) has awarded Capital Metro Company (Camco), the joint venture of France’s RATP Dev and local firm Saudi Public Transport Company (Saptco), the contract to operate and maintain lines 1 and 2 of the $23bn Riyadh Metro.

The contract, valued at SAR8.5bn ($2.27bn),  is for 12 years, inclusive of the mobilisation phase.

Line 1, otherwise known as the Blue line, stretches 39 kilometres between Al-Olaya and Al-Batha corridor and has 25 stations.

Line 2, the Red line, runs for 25km along King Abdullah Road and serves 15 stations.

The contract covers: metro operation, security and passenger assistance; facility management; maintenance of stations, park and rides, and depots; and the complete transit system, including trains, signalling, telecoms, power supply and passenger information, among others.

According to Camco, the contract carries a minimum Saudisation target of 45 per cent as well as a minimum level of 55 per cent for local content in the areas of supplies and services.

On 17 September, ADA appointed the Flow Consortium, which comprises France's Alstom, and Italy’s Ansaldo STS and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, for the 12-year operation and maintenance contract for lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Riyadh Metro.

The 12-year contract, which similarly covers the mobilisation stage, was valued at SAR10.9bn ($2.9bn).

According to Alstom, rolling stock and systems infrastructure maintenance accounts for more than $850m of the total contract.

The Riyadh Metro is part of the King Abdulaziz Project, which consists of an integrated metro and bus network, for Riyadh Public Transport (KAPRTP).

The metro network will be 176.5km long, inclusive of 7.8km of common section for line 4 and line 6, with underground, elevated and at-grade sections. It will have a total of 85 stations and 25 park-and-ride locations.

The metro network will cover most of the densely populated areas, public facilities, and the educational, commercial and medical facilities in the capital. It will also connect King Khalid International Airport and King Abdullah Financial District.

Public Transportation Company, a joint venture also comprising of RATP  Dev and Saptco, is already implementing the Riyadh bus network project.

Construction works on the metro are expected to be completed in late 2019.

MEED understands Saudi Arabia’s Transport Ministry recently issued a tender related to a transit-oriented development (TOD) project for the Riyadh Metro.

TODs comprise commercial, residential and retail spaces in proximity to transport hubs, and are designed to increase public transport usage.