Saudi Transport Minister Inaugurates Intercity Bus Service

Minister of Transport Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated the ceremony of operating Intercity Bus Service linking 200 cities and governorates across Saudi Arabia.

Several ministers, ambassadors and officials of government agencies and companies in the private sector attended the ceremony organized by TGA in Riyadh on Monday.

This service will cater to over six million passengers annually with a new fleet of the state-of-the-art buses fitted with eco-friendly technology.

Goals of Intercity Bus Service

The targets of the Intercity Bus Service include commuters with an array of transportation options, streamline movement between cities and governorates, reduce carbon emissions, promote safety and reduce traffic congestion.

Al-Jasser said that the Intercity Bus Service project will contribute to the creation of more than 35,000 direct and indirect jobs, and add SR3.2 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The Kingdom’s land sector is witnessing major structural reforms and steady growth encompassing all services, as performance indicators recorded growth in transportation activities during the last year 2022, and an increase in land transportation activities, including the transportation of goods and passengers, reaching 46 percent over the same period of the previous year,” he said.

“The transport and logistics services system will continue, with the support of the wise leadership, to develop the quality of services being provided, enhance the level of competitiveness, support integration with different modes of transportation, and provide additional options of modern and environmentally friendly means of transportation in line with the comprehensive renaissance that our country is witnessing in various sectors and fields,” he added.

The project will also contribute to translating one of the most important goals of the strategy, which place the quality of life in cities among its priorities, by reducing the percentage of carbon emissions from transportation to reach 25 percent in 2030

Global cooperation

Three global alliances would operate the bus service in their respective concession areas.

Darb AlWatan Company has obtained the northern concession to provide 124 daily trips in more than 75 cities and governorates across 26 routes.

The Northwest Bus Company has secured the northwest concession to provide 190 daily trips in more than 70 cities and governorates across 23 routes while the third company SAT (SAPTCO Alsa for Transportation) will provide 178 daily services in the southern concession area to connect more than 80 cities and governorates via 27 routes.