816 buses as part of US$5.6bn transport plan for Jeddah

Plans have been revealed for a SR21 billion ($5.6bn) monorail project in Jeddah as part of a comprehensive transport shake-up in the city. Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry presented plans to develop public transport in Jeddah to Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.

The new public transport system, which includes monorails, buses and trams linking Jeddah’s residential districts, would bring about a revolution in the city’s traffic system, Arab News reported citing a Saudi Press Agency story.

Al-Seraisry said the project would include 816 buses, 201 stations, and dozens of tram cars and the project would have an annual operation cost of about SR370 million.

Prince Khaled urged officials to undertake the project as quickly as possible, the report added.

It is understood that the monorails will have a speed of 40-60km per hour and contracts have already been signed with leading national and international companies to implement new railway lines.

Source: www.arabianbusiness.com