A Middle Eastern city is set for a brand new metro railway system.
The project in Jeddah will consist of four lines, and is expected to be completed next year after it was initially hoped to be finished in 2020.
But this was before the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic slowdown.
The network aims to increase the city’s public transport commuter share to 30% from the current one to two percent.
According to Billion Dollar Builds on YouTube, the project is set to cost $60billion, which is around £48billion.
The channel also says that the metro is aimed at modernising Jeddah’s urban landscape and alleviating the city’s traffic congestion.
The Jeddah Metro is part of Saudi Arabia’s country’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the country economically, socially, and culturally.
The new railway will cover around 149 kilometers, and connect key areas of the city, including business districts, residential areas, and major transportation hubs.
This includes King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Customers will be able to make use of automated ticketing, and on the metro’s rails will run driverless trains.
Designer Foster+Partners says that the Jeddah Metro is an “integrated urban masterplan for the 23rd century”.
The company adds that it outlines a “completely unified design vision” of the city’s transport system, incorporating a long-term strategy that will act as a catalyst for urban growth, setting in place the foundations for a sustainable future for Jeddah.
The firm adds on its website: “Inspired by the city’s vision for infrastructure development, the proposal is a joint venture with engineers Arcadis, and takes a holistic approach towards different modes of transport, public spaces, energy and communication infrastructure, and landscaping, ensuring each of these aspects forms a coherent and complementary whole.
“Designed in response to the local climate, the masterplan is city-wide and draws on the high-density, compact urban model of the ancient quarter of Al Balad, with its mixture of uses and comfortable, walkable shaded streets.
“Currently only a small percentage of the population live within a 10-minute walk of Jeddah’s transport nodes – the project aims to achieve a significantly larger percentage, through a process of densification and strategic planning.
“Each station node will create a new neighbourhood, with a unique character, and together these will create a diverse and vibrant city.
“The metro network is defined by a series of viaducts – a distinct, sculptural presence that marches through Jeddah, providing space for multiple functions and catalysts for positive urban growth and a natural orientation to the city.”
