Siemens led consortium to construct Riyadh driverless subway

The Riyadh High Commission for Urban Development has awarded a consortium of Siemens, US based Bechtel and local construction companies Almabani and Consolidated Contractors Company, a contract to supply advanced systems for a new driverless subway. The new metro subway will comprise six lines and be 175km long. Siemens is supplying subway rolling stock, electrification systems and signalling technology as well as managing system integration for the project. The signalling and train control technology ensures that, particularly during rush-hour periods, trains can operate at 90-second intervals, allowing the system to handle 21,000 passengers per hour.
The lines will be equipped with WLAN-based control system for driverless and conductor-less train operation, as well as automatic train control, radio transmission and 31 electronic interlocking systems. Siemens, which is equipping the operations control centre for the lines, will also supply the power supply systems, emergency power facilities with diesel generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The power supply systems use regenerative braking to save energy. Siemens will also deliver a total of 74 aluminium metro vehicles, designed to run on standard-gauge track at a top speed of 90kmh.