Giant TBM Ready for Riyadh Metro Red Line Extension Project

Construction of the Riyadh Metro Red Line Extension Project has reached a major milestone with the successful manufacturing and factory acceptance testing of the project’s dedicated Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). The machine is scheduled to arrive in Riyadh soon, where it will begin tunneling operations for the underground corridor linking King Saud University (KSU) with the Diriyah Gate Development Project. This milestone marks significant progress in the Royal Commission for Riyadh City’s (RCRC) efforts to expand Riyadh’s public transport network and strengthen connectivity across the capital’s key destinations.

Operating with an Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) system, the TBM features an 11.16-meter-diameter cutterhead and an overall length of 105 meters. Equipped with advanced technologies, the machine is designed to efficiently navigate varying geological conditions, ensuring safe, precise, and highly efficient tunneling operations.

The Red Line extension, a key addition to the Riyadh Metro network, extends approximately 8.4 kilometers. The project includes the construction of 7.1 kilometers of deep underground tunnels and 1.3 kilometers of elevated track. The extension will feature five stations serving key destinations and high-demand areas. Two stations will be located at King Saud University (KSU): one serving the Medical City and the health colleges, and another serving the university’s main campus. The remaining three stations will be located in Diriyah, including one designed to serve as a future interchange with Line 7.