Bombardier wins Saudi Arabian APM contract
People mover will serve as the backbone for the smooth transportation of passengers between terminal areas at KAIA. Completion of the system is scheduled for the start of 2014.
Bombardier Transportation signed a contract with Saudi Arabian construction company, Saudi Binladin Group, to design, build, operate and maintain a Bombardier Innovia APM 300 automated people mover (APM) system for the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Development Project in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The total value of the contract is $96 million.
Saudi Binladin Group is the contractor responsible for the design and construction of the KAIA Development Project and was awarded its contract by the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in 2011. KAIA is expanding its existing passenger facilities with an additional Passenger Terminal Building to meet the requirements of rising passenger volumes.
The new Innovia APM 300 system will serve as the backbone for the smooth transportation of passengers between terminal areas at KAIA. Completion of the system is scheduled for the start of 2014.
Bombardier's recently established wholly-owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia will act as subcontractor to Saudi Binladin Group, leading the project to design and supply all of the system-wide electrical and mechanical elements for the dual guideway APM system.
Per the contract, the company will supply 10 Innovia APM 300 cars with Bombardier CITYFLO 650 automatic train control technology for driverless operation as well as provide project management, systems engineering and integration, testing and commissioning.
In addition, Bombardier will provide operation and maintenance services for four years followed by a two-year discretionary option to extend to 2020. Much of the technology will be supplied from Bombardier's facility in Pittsburgh.
More Rail

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →
Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract
The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.
Read More →
Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service
Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.
Read More →
Alstom Partners With Universities to Build Rail Talent Pipeline
The partnerships include a new engineering scholarship fund at Alfred State College in Western New York and collaborations with transportation centers at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan
The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.
Read More →
Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership
The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.
Read More →
North Carolina's Metropolitan Transit Commission Concludes Decades of Leadership
To commemorate the occasion, current members of the MTC were presented with a custom painting of the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown.
Read More →