TGA awards intercity bus transport concession to Saudi-Spanish alliance

Logo of Transport General Authority (TGA)

The Transport General Authority (TGA) approved granting an intercity bus transport concession for the northwest concession area to Northwest Bus Co., an alliance between Saudi Al Qaid Transportation Co. and Spain-based Moventis.

The move comes as part of the framework of privatizing the public bus transportation sector in the Kingdom, under which the transportation lines were divided into three main areas: the north, the northwest, and the south, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The authority required a foreign partner to grant the concession. This aims to develop the transportation system as per the highest international standards and in partnership with well-established foreign companies.

The consortium will operate the public bus transportation lines in the northwestern region of the Kingdom.

Moventis Managing Director Jordi Castells said the company will work under an operational plan covering several cities in the Kingdom, adding that the project will include a transportation network of 23 roads and 14 passages spanning 21,620 kilometers. The project will also include 11 stations serving nearly 1.5 million passengers annually across the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Al Qaid Transportation CEO Faisal Al-Qayed said a bus fleet consisting of 123 modern buses was prepared, along with four fully equipped main warehouses. He added that the project will have four supporting warehouses to provide the best transportation services and logistical support.