The joint venture of France’s RATP Dev and local Saptco has signed a deal to acquire 1,000 buses from Germany’s Mercedes-Benz and MAN for the Riyadh bus network.

The joint venture, called Public Transport Company (PTC), did not disclose the breakdown of bus units to be acquired between the two suppliers.

Mercedes-Benz and local partner Juffali said the deal will introduce one of the most advanced Mercedes-Benz buses, equipped with Euro 5 engines, for the first time in the Saudi market.

The firm won the $1.77bn, 10-year contract, to implement, operate and maintain Riyadh’s bus network in 2014.

The buses will be deployed on the three under-construction bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in Riyadh, which will feature 21 commuter lines and more than 60 feeder lines.

According to PTC, these lines will be introduced into service in three phases and will ultimately transport more than 100 million passengers every year.

Riyadh’s BRT system will complement the $23bn Riyadh Metro, which is expected to be completed in 2019. Both schemes are part of the Riyadh Public Transport Project (RPTP).

Turkish contractor Yuksel Insaat recently commenced construction work on the third and final phase of Riyadh’s bus rapid transit (BRT) infrastructure.