The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a tram design agreement with Systra, one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups specialized in public transport and mobility solutions, to advance the AlUla tram project, which will connect the governorate to a number of stations, tracks, routes, landmarks and historical heritage sites.
The 50-km tram, which will run from AlUla International Airport in the south to Hegra city in the north, is a key project in AlUla’s The Journey Through Time masterplan and a main pillar of the city’s development program, which aims to turn AlUla into a global destination for travelers offering heritage, nature, art and culture, in line with Vision 2030.
The design agreement announcement coincides with HRH Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s national aspirations and priorities for the research, development and innovation sector in the kingdom over the next two decades. These priorities cover human health, the sustainability of environment and basic needs, leadership in energy and industry and future economics.
Through the tram project, the RCU aims to enhance the sustainability of mobility, and reduce crowd and noise.
“AlUla has proven that it is at the center of everyone’s attention, and planning in AlUla affects financial, environmental, and energy sustainability as well,” said Amr Al Madani, the CEO of Royal Commission for AlUla.
“Thus, the tram will be part of the solution, not only because it will rely on electric power but also because it will reduce the need to use vehicles that are used to reach sites in the desert, which do not provide a pleasant transportation experience and are environmentally harmful,” he added.
According to RCU, the design of the project’s initial phase is expected to be complete in 2023. The tram will serve several routes. Tram carts feature designs inspired by the natural and historical heritage of AlUla, securing the governorate’s vision of transforming the city into the largest living museum in the world and a global tourism destination, it added.
