The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is building a new tram system connecting the Saudi city’s landmarks and hotspots.
RCU has signed French mobility firm Systra to complete the design studies of the 50-kilometre tram network, which will stretch from Hegra in the north to AlUla International Airport in the south.
According to RCU, the planned tram network will be modelled after the historic Hijaz railway in terms of design. It was part of the Ottoman railway network that ran from Damascus to Medina.
“AlUla’s rich heritage is the foundation on which our future achievements are built. As such, great care and attention has been paid to the design of the trams to reflect the rolling stock that travelled along the old Hijaz railway line in the early 20th Century,” Moataz Kurdi, RCU’s chief country operations officer, said.
The project will be done in two phases, the Saudi body said, with the first one stretching 21 kilometres. The second phase will add an additional 33-kilometre track that will connect the airport to the new tram stations.
Design work will finish by 2023, RCU said, with Systra carrying out detailed design studies for the project. Once done, the tram will run at a maximum speed of 50 kmph, and will be a low-carbon mobility option for AlUla visitors.
“The low-emission service will follow a carefully planned rail line connecting AlUla’s main tourist and heritage sites, as outlined in our Journey Through Time project route, allowing people to move freely and easily without the need to rely on busses or personal cars,” Kurdi said.
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