Work on the Riyadh Metro project is moving at a steady pace with three of its key network lines on track for opening by the end of 2018 or early 2019, said a report, citing the contractor.

Fast consortium, which is working on the project, said about 40 per cent of the work on the new 176.6 km six-line metro has been completed, reported Arab News.

The consortium led by Spanish group Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) and which includes Alstom, Samsung, Freyssinet Saudi Arabia, Strukton, Setec and Typsa, is presently constructing the lines Four, Five and Six of the metro, it added.

In 2014, Fast was awarded a $7.8-billion design-and-build contract by ArRiyadh Development Authority (ADA) for the three lines totalling 63.8 km with 26 stations.

Alstom is supplying 69 two-car Metropolis trains, its Urbalis communications-based train control system, power supply and its Hesop energy recovery system as part of its €1.2 billion ($1.34 billion) contract.