$96-million Saudi deal for Bombardier

MONTREAL—Bombardier Transportation has signed a US$96 million contract to provide and maintain an automated monorail system for Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah international airport.

Construction company Saudi Binladin Group awarded the contract to service a new passenger terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport.

The Innovia APM 300 system will transport passengers between terminals beginning in early 2014.

Bombardier’s recently established wholly-owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia will act as subcontractor, leading the project to design and supply all of the system-wide electrical and mechanical elements for the 1.5 kilometre system.

It will also operate and maintain the system for four years followed by an option through to 2020.

The technology will mostly be supplied from Bombardier’s facility in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Bombardier Transportation vice-president Serge Van Themsche said its second Innovia contract in Saudi Arabia will help the oil-rich kingdom to achieve its ambitious urban transportation plans.

A year ago, it was awarded a US$241-million contract to supply an automated monorail system for the Saudi capital city’s new financial district.

That six-station monorail system will stretch about 3.6 kilometres through the King Abdullah Financial District being built in Riyadh. The monorail system is scheduled for completion in 2012.

The monorail trains include six cars made from lightweight and recyclable aluminum can travel up to 80 kilometres per hour.

The Berlin-based rail division of Bombardier Inc. has more than 100,000 trains in operation in over 60 countries.

PHOTO: Bombardier