Happy desert train
——Interview with Riyadh Development Authority, Saudi Arabia
Deputy Director
AlwalidAlekrish
I believe that many people have watched "One Thousand and One Nights" when they were children, and the stories of "Aladdin's Divine Lamp" and "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" make people fascinated by the magical Arab world. The modern Arab world is still attracting the attention of the world because of its rich oil resources, and Saudi Arabia is a rich "oil" country in the Arab world, a veritable "oil kingdom".
Saudi Arabia means "desert of happiness" in Arabic. Oil, deserts, local tycoons, turbans, football... Beyond that, what else? Few people seem to know more about this mysterious country. "Actually, Saudi Arabia is very interesting, beyond your imagination," in the interview, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Director of the Riyadh Development Bureau, Alwalid Alekrish, said of this "happy desert" very humorously: "95% of our land is desert or semi-desert; the world's largest oil reserves are foreigners, most of the Saudis are engaged in oil-related work; military spending is the fourth in the world; 1,000 meters of skyscrapers are under construction; 47% of the nationals are under 24 years old." 45% of the country's GDP depends on oil... Now we have one more happiness, Riyadh's 176-kilometer subway network is about to open, and the happiness train is slowly coming towards us! ”
The reporter first met Alwalid Alekrish at the UTP summit, and his kindness, chattiness and humor impressed the reporter, and the project of inviting the reporter to visit Saudi Arabia many times showed his enthusiasm and friendliness. In Alwalid Alekrish's view, although Saudi Arabia is not a traditional rail transit power, Saudi Arabia's rail future is still full of highlights.
Build a world-class urban transportation system
In a 2020 report on traffic in the world's megacities, the Boston Consulting Group noted that while major cities are facing traffic pressures from rapid population growth, Riyadh is particularly prominent, "A city that is constantly struggling with traffic congestion and has become one of the most polluted cities in the world." These factors, combined with the high dependence of local residents on cars in their lifestyles and the expected growth rate of car ownership far exceeding those of the rest of the world, make it imperative to speed up the resolution of traffic congestion."
As a result, the metro has become an important outlet for riyadh's urban development. The $22.5 billion metro project, an important part of the modernization of riyadh, will be a pillar of Riyadh's public transport system and an important part of economic growth. In the words of Alwalid Alekrish: "The metro project will redefine Riyadh's public transport system and will give Riyadh citizens and visitors an experience of a world-class transport system." ”
Huge public transport system
"The Riyadh Metro is arguably the world's largest public transport system currently under development," Alwalid Alekrish proudly says, "and the project will include the laying of six railway lines with a total length of 176 kilometers equipped with electric and driverless trains." This was followed by a systematic network of buses with a total length of 1150 km. Although the construction schedule has been delayed, it is expected to open this year. The completion of the metro project heralds the possibility of transforming the capital, Riyadh, into a modern city in the developed world. Metro projects play an important role in the process of urban modernization and industrialization, and there will be many indirect benefits for cities. In the future, the completion of the subway will save a lot of time for many Saudis and foreigners. At the same time, there will be huge economic benefits. The advent of the subway will alleviate traffic congestion in Saudi Arabia and reduce air pollution from car exhaust emissions. ”
According to Alwalid Alekrish, the project is mainly based on underground solutions, which include 756 subway vehicles, 85 subway stations, 6 subway lines and a 176-kilometer subway network. In addition, it will include the construction of 3853 new bus stations, 24 bus routes, bus mileage of 1150 km, including 956 bus buses. A remarkable experience will be provided for the city tour of the citizens.
Among them, the blue line is Olaya–Batha'a, with a length of 38 km; the red line is King Abdullah Roadad, with a length of 25.3 km; and the orange line is AlMadina AlMonawara–PrinceSaadbin AbdulRahman AlAwal
road, 40.7 km long; King Khaled InternationalAirportRoad at 29.6 km; King AbdulAzizRoad at length; And 30 km in length, AbdulRahmanbin Aoufroad–Shiekh HassanbinHussainbinAliroad, length 30 km. These six routes cover most of the densely populated areas, infrastructure, education and business outlets, and connect to King Khalid International Airport and King Abdullah Financial District.
"The Riyadh Development Authority's metro project has been highly praised by the public. Especially those office workers who drive to work every day, they eagerly await the arrival of the subway. They gave the government a thumbs up and made us feel very excited and excited," said Alwalid Alekrish with a happy smile on his face.
Unmanned driving technology covers the whole network
Such a huge public transportation system is loaded with many intelligent technologies, the most proud of which is the driverless technology: "The application of driverless technology on the whole line is groundbreaking all over the world, at that time, both passenger experience satisfaction and network operation efficiency will be greatly improved, and smart technology will make Riyadh's public transportation full of happiness!" ”
Driverless technology is fascinating, with Siemens, for example, providing 74 driverless subway trains for two of the six new lines, as well as supporting electrical, signaling and communication systems, as well as central control technology. Wireless LAN-based signaling and train control technology ensures that driverless trains can depart at 90-second intervals during rush hour. At this frequency, the metro system can deliver 21,000 passengers per hour. Achieving such a short departure interval requires a continuous calculation of the minimum possible spacing between trains based on train speed and braking distance. The digital control system will determine the speed of the train based on the subway line conditions in order to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of it, while minimizing energy consumption. Using all the data generated during the operation of the metro system also ensures that the operation of the metro system is continuously optimized according to the requirements of the operator.
For Riyadh, which has long been desperately short of public transport, the metro project is crucial. Alwalid Alekrish was under pressure: "The Saudi government has spent a lot of effort to attract foreign companies to move their regional headquarters from Dubai to King Abdullah's financial district in Riyadh, and we are determined not to hold our feet behind. ”
The most luxurious metro station in the world
The reporter has always heard how rich the "local tycoons" in Arab countries are, but they have not really seen it, until Alwalid Alekrish took out the design plan of the subway station and showed it to the reporter, the reporter suddenly realized that it was really "Howe"! Public opinion generally believes that Riyadh's subway system, once completed, will become the world's most luxurious subway, and the subway station is comparable to a five-star hotel.
It is worth mentioning that the interchange station of three of the city's six metro lines, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) metro station, was led by the late architect Zaha Razak, who is half Iraqi and half British. Hadid is the architect of Hoston Square and Eaton Square in London's East End, as well as many international buildings in New York, Singapore and Dubai.
Covering an area of 20,434 square meters, THE KAFD Metro Station is located in the most thriving infrastructure area of the Saudi Arabian capital and will become an important center for urban life. Sidewalks, overpasses and underpasses have been built around the perimeter, and various routes are clearly marked with pedestrian passages, maximizing the use of internal space and avoiding congestion. The exterior of KAFD subway station is a three-dimensional structure. This design reduces the absorption of solar heat, while the geometric design better integrates the metro station with its surroundings. Inspired by the sand dunes in the desert, the interlaced sine waves add a sleek and fluid feel to the building through constant repetition. In addition, after walking across the street bridge, you can also take the local tram. Alwalid Alekrish is satisfied with the design: "The KAFD mrt station has 4 floors, 6 platforms, 2 underground car parks, and when the new mrt station is completed, it will be better integrated into the King Abdullah Financial District, better meet the diverse transportation needs of the financial district, and is in line with the long-term development of the area." We hope that when completed, it will not only be a transportation hub, but also a vibrant public gathering place. ”
For the understanding of "Howe", Alwalid Alekrish put forward a different view: "In the eyes of the outside world, Riyadh subway station is synonymous with 'Howe', in fact, what we really want to do is to redefine the subway station space. Alwalid Alekrish further explained: "Zaha? Hadid's plan is primarily an investment in public living areas, redefining subway station space. The designers designed hard-hitting landscaping, water features, picnic areas and a Wi-Fi coverage, as well as a man-friendly roof garden that extends the event space of the metro station. The undulating roofs mimic the shape of sand dunes in the deserts of the Middle East. When open, the illuminated subway station is a sign of the intersection of the two subway stations and the four-story circular gallery. This geometric cantilevered glass building is used to guide pedestrians coming from Dunes Park towards the meeting place in front of it, which is the meeting point of public and private transportation. With a bus terminal, taxi rank and a 750-car car park at the entrance, it became the first location in the city to be accessible by public transport. Olaya Metro Station aims to rebuild public buildings and the urban environment, combined with public transport, private transport and the environment. Therefore, 'Hao' is not the purpose, so that space utilization, intelligent technology, city station integration and other aspects to achieve ingenuity, this is our pursuit. ”
170 km of ultra-long "straight line city" planning
In 2021, Saudi Arabia announced a huge future urban development project called "THELINE". The Kingdom will build a brand-new linear city of 170 km in length, with no car roads, built around nature, and the city's basic living facilities are positioned within a 5-minute radius of housing walking distance. This "linear new city" is the cornerstone of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" plan and the new engine of Saudi Arabia's economy, as well as a new blueprint for the future of the world for the harmonious coexistence of mankind and the earth.
"Modern urban development is not sustainable, THELINE is the future" The reporter was very curious about such a new concept, Alwalid Alekrish further explained to the reporter: "This is a major project announced by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, which is expected to cover an area of 26,500 square kilometers, and will start construction in the near future, planning to invest 100-200 billion US dollars, and will become the first giant flagship project in the region in the future." ”
In 2021, the concept of "straight-tier cities" was first announced, and the actual urban planning in the future new city NEOM will take this form, Alwalid Alekrish believes that the "straight-tier city" layout will bring many advantages and is the new face of the future city: "The smart city of the future will directly respond to the growing challenges of human congestion, pollution, transportation and old infrastructure. The route, which connects the Red Sea coast with the mountains and upstream valleys of northwestern Saudi Arabia, will be powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to continuously learn prediction methods that will make life easier for residents and local businesses. ”
Alwalid Alekrish patiently explained to reporters: "'Straight tier cities' will be divided into three different levels of structure. The area on the ground is a complete pedestrian area, completely free of any roads and cars, surrounded by green parks that encourage walking and leisure activities; the second floor serves as a service floor to accommodate shops and other commercial spaces; the third and lowest floor, which will be the traffic backbone of this straight-line city, is the area for transporting goods and people, and the planning of the ultra-high-speed transportation system allows people to reach any location along the 'straight city' in 20 minutes. Based on the concept of sustainable future urban construction and development, this new city that plans to accommodate 1 million residents in 2030 will fully rely on modern technology and design to build a model of sustainable urban development with zero roads, zero streets and zero carbon emissions. ”
How is it possible to reach any location along the "straight-line city" in 20 minutes? In the face of reporters' questions, Alwalid Alekrish proposed a solution: "Hyperloop will play a crucial decision. As part of our Vision 2030 plan, we hope to be able to build a 'hyperloop' that will connect several major cities between Saudi Arabia and the UAE through this high-speed transport system." The Hyperloop is speeding and dubai is only 124 km from Abu Dhabi in 12 minutes. "That's equivalent to 15 minutes from Shanghai to Hangzhou." Saudi Arabia's Hyperloop will connect with several major cities in the Middle East, including Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. If the hyperloop project can be implemented in the future, it can greatly change the way Saudi Arabian and EMI city residents travel. According to VirginHyperloopOne, the system can reduce the commuting time of local residents to a few minutes.
This "straight-tier city" seeks to reduce the demand for private cars and organize all the city's services in a sustainable way. The city will be powered entirely by electricity made from new sources such as solar, wind and hydrogen. At the same time, artificial intelligence will be widely used to simplify the lives of residents and use resources more efficiently. However, this radical urban planning is fascinating as a theoretical study, but in practice there are many such questions: how is people's production and life laid out? Is it feasible to afford transportation? While the "straight line" format is attractive and looks spectacular from space, how does this kind of planning achieve a long-distance layout that can take into account both sustainable development and shorten transit time? Under the gorgeous appearance, I am afraid it will still be a huge challenge.
In this regard, Alwalid Alekrish replied to the reporter with a smile: "I can only say that everything is possible, whether Saudi Arabia can create a miracle, please wait and see!" ”
epilogue
At the end of the interview, when it comes to China's high-speed rail technology, Alwalid Alekrish praised: "The Saudi Maimai high-speed railway, which was built by China, currently has a good reputation in domestic operation. The construction of the Maimai high-speed railway can be described as 'difficult to go to the blue sky', 480 km line length, 360 km / h design speed, from north to south through the four cities of Medina, Rabig, Jeddah and Mecca, along the line are mostly desert mountains, the road conditions are extremely complex, 55 ° C high temperature and heat, and facing large cultural differences, serious water and soil dissatisfaction and other difficulties, the difficulty of the project makes the United States and Japan and other countries retreat, and only China can complete this impossible task. China's infrastructure boldness, let us impress! ”
During the 900 years of the Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties, the Arab Empire and China formed an open and close exchange relationship in politics, commerce and trade. Around 1500 AD, political and trade exchanges between the two sides almost stopped. Since 1990, China has established formal diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, becoming a brother country of China, and comprehensive cooperation between the two sides has ushered in a new era of development. Saudi Arabia's North-South Railway, Mecca Light Rail, Maimai High-Speed Railway, China and Saudi Arabia work together. In the project camp, the Chinese flag and the Saudi flag are flying high... The combination of corporate culture with Chinese elements and local culture has taken root with the "going out" of engineering project construction, which conveys a strong friendship between China and Saudi Arabia.
In the future, with the effective alignment of Saudi Arabia's economic development priorities with China's "Belt and Road" initiative, we have reason to believe that the cooperation between China-Saudi Arabia rail transit will continue to write more gorgeous new chapters!
Biography
Alwalid Alekrish is Deputy Director of the Riyadh Development Authority (RDA) and Director of the Riyadh Public Transport Network Project. He has over 20 years of experience in architecture and project management at RDA and has been involved in the development of many iconic projects in the city of Riyadh, such as: the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre; the expansion of the King Fahd National Library; the Al darya Historical District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Alwalid holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in structural engineering from King Saud University in Riyadh.
Source: World Rail Transit Magazine