French firm Alstom has conducted initial dynamic tests for the rolling stock on Line 4 of the $23bn Riyadh Metro.

According to Alstom, the test comprised the demonstration of the performance of the railway system, from power supply to signalling systems, using the trains which have already been delivered.

Alstom is supplying 69 Metropolis trains, Urbalis signalling, the energy recovery system Hesop as well as tracks for the FAST Consortium, which won the contract for lines 4, 5 and 6 of the six-line Riyadh Metro.

The Metropolis-based trains for Riyadh are composed of two cars per set and is 36 metres long, Alstom said.

Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), the project client, has yet to award the contracts to operate and maintain (O&M) Riyadh Metro’s six lines.

It is understood that RATP Dev and Keolis, also of France, as well as Italy’s Ansaldo, now part of Japan’s Hitachi, were the frontrunners for the contracts, which were expected to be awarded in October last year, following the completion of the bids evaluation process.

However, the award of the contracts has been delayed.

One of the bidders, UK-based Serco Group, pulled out of the tender last year citing “longer than anticipated tendering process”.

ADA has said it is likely to select two or three firms to operate and maintain Riyadh Metro’s six lines.

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

Extending 176.5 kilometres, the Riyadh Metro is more than twice as long as the Dubai Metro’s first phase. It will feature 85 stations.