Hitachi Rail announced in a statement that it has signed a contract with Princess Noura Bint Abdul Rahman University to operate and maintain the autonomous metro system in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the next three years.

The value of the contract is €72.5 million.

The rail network consists of four elevated lines spanning 11.5 km that connects 14 stations. The 22 two-carriage automated metro trains have a capacity of 110 passengers and can travel to a maximum speed of 60 km/h.

The contract will see Hitachi operate the whole autonomous metro system, while maintaining the trains and infrastructure, including stations, mechanical and electrical systems and the depot and viaduct.