Plans to initiate the first line of the network are already in swing.
Saudi Arabia has been on a development spree for years. The launch of the Riyadh Metro just over a year ago was a game-changer for the capital. And now, plans for the Jeddah Metro are finally gaining traction.
Saudi Arabia has announced plans to restart development for the Jeddah Metro. The Kingdom has selected a preliminary design consultancy tender for the project’s Blue Line, which will be the first line to be built.
This line will stretch 35 kilometres, connecting King Abdulaziz International Airport to the Haramain High-Speed Railway station, making travel between Jeddah and Makkah smoother than ever. Along the way, 15 stations are set to pop up, giving residents and tourists a faster and more convenient way to get around.
According to the Jeddah Transport Company, the final phase will include a four-line network featuring 81 stations and 197 trains across more than 161 km. These will include the Blue Line King Abdulaziz International Airport to Haramain High-Speed Railway station, with 15 stops, the Orange Line along Al Madinah Road and Old Makkah Road, with 29 stops, including Obhur Bridge, the Green Line from downtown Jeddah to the Haramain railway station, with nine stops and Red Line from King Abdullah Stadium to Old Makkah Street via King Abdulaziz and King Abdullah Roads, with 25 stops.
The idea of a Jeddah Metro isn’t new. Plans were first floated in the early 2010s and later formally included in the wider Jeddah public transport program. In 2015, Foster + Partners was appointed to design the metro stations. The group was tasked with “transforming Jeddah through transit-oriented developments, reducing the city’s reliance on cars, and laying the groundwork for a more sustainable urban future”.
Early ideas included a multi-line network fully integrated with buses and other city-wide transport options. But with Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector booming, the metro is more needed than ever.
Details on when the metro will officially start running remain under wraps, but if everything goes according to plan, Jeddah Metro could be operational in time to welcome fans for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which Saudi Arabia is set to host.
GO: Visit https://www.jedtc.com.sa/ for more information.