RIYADH: Two more Riyadh Metro lines, Line 2 (Red Line) and Line 5 (Green Line), started operation on Sunday, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) said in a statement. At this point, five of the Riyadh Metro’s six lines are operating, local media reported. Beginning at 6:00 am and continuing throughout the day until 12:00 midnight, passengers were accepted at the stations of the two lines.
According to the RCRC, the Red Line connects King Fahd Sports City and King Saud University by running 25.1 km from east to west along King Abdullah Road. It passes through the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center through 15 stations, and it intersects the Blue Line at STC Station, the Green Line at the Ministry of Education Station, and the Purple Line at Al-Hamra Station.
The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Commerce are among the ministries and government agencies served by the 13.3-kilometer Green Line, along with several commercial, service, and residential facilities through 12 stations. The line runs from King Abdullah Road, which is adjacent to the Ministry of Education, to the National Museum. Except for the Ministry of Finance and the National Museum stations, which will run later, every stop on the route has been opened.
At the Ministry of Education station, the Green Line crosses the Red Line; at the National Museum station, it crosses the Blue Line. The first line (Blue Line), the fourth line (Yellow Line), and the sixth line (Purple Line) began operations in the first phase on December 1.
The Purple Line links Abdul Rahman bin Awf Road with Al-Shaikh Hassan bin Hussain Road, the Yellow Line follows the King Khalid International Airport Road, and the Blue Line links Olaya Street to Batha. All six lines of the Riyadh Metro will be functional from January 5 after the start of Line 3 (Orange Line), which covers Madinah Road.
On November 27, 2024, King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, officially opened the Riyadh Metro, the longest driverless train system in the world and the largest metro project in the Middle East. The Royal Commission has also issued Requests for Proposals from prequalified bidders for the design and construction of the seventh metro line, which will total 65 km and consist of 19 stations.
This comprehensive transportation project aims to improve efficiency and ease of access throughout Riyadh, supporting both local and foreign investment and boosting economic growth.