TGA launches concession for intercity bus transport in Southern Region

Logo of Transport General Authority (TGA)

The Transport General Authority (TGA) announced the launch of SAT services through a consortium between the Saudi Public Transport Co. (SAPTCO) and the Spanish company ALSA, which won the concession for intercity bus transport in the Southern Region.

This came within the framework of opening the intercity bus transport market in the Kingdom for competition between local and international companies, to divide the transportation network and lines into three main geographical regions: the Northern, the Northwestern, and the Southern.

SAT CEO Turki Al-Subaihi, said that the consortium will strengthen the transportation system in the Kingdom and contribute significantly to qualifying Saudi youth for this sector and developing public transportation according to the highest international standards, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The company will work on an operational plan that covers several cities starting from its center in Riyadh city, passing through Dammam and Al-Ahsa, then towards the Western region, passing through Jeddah and Makkah. It will cover the Jeddah-Khamis Mushait Road network, including Taif, Al-Baha, Al-Namaas, Abha, and Jazan, all the way to Najran in the southern region, and a number of intermediate cities linked in the concession area according to a transportation network consisting of 27 routes distributed over a road network served by seven stations distributed in various regions, which will serve about 1.7 million passengers annually, according to the official.

Al-Subaihi also confirmed that a bus fleet consisting of 129 modern buses, ranging between standard and VIP buses, had been prepared, and four bus warehouse and maintenance centers had been provided to be ready to provide the best transportation services and logistical support.

On February 15, SAPTCO announced 15 that the consortium had won the concession for the intercity bus transport in the Southern region and signed the concession contract with TGA, according to Argaam's data.