In Eastern Province, a public transportation bus service trial is launched.

In advance of the formal debut in the near future, the Eastern Province Mayoralty began a trial run of the public transportation bus service in the area.

Buses for public transportation will run between Dammam, Al-Khobar, Dhahran, and Qatif. For the public transportation service, a total of 85 completely furnished and equipped contemporary buses will be employed.

From 5:30 in the morning until 11:30 in the evening, there will be daily journeys planned over a period of 18 hours. The buses will travel a total distance of 400 kilometers on a connected system of key railways. There will be 212 stations, which will cover the majority of the desirable areas in the four cities. The buses will be able to accommodate 81 passengers and have particular accommodations for those with impairments.

According to the mayoralty, smart technology will be used for both bus operation and monitoring. Along with a flexible payment system employing smart cards that can be bought and refilled through a number of electronic outlets, there will be an integrated electronic system for managing buses.

The mayoralty announced that a five-year agreement had been reached with a business to manage the public bus transportation project in the cities of Dammam and Qatif. In order to improve performance efficiency, attain safety, and solidify the culture of public transportation in cities, he added, the public transportation sector “represents one of the most significant national strategic axes for transport and logistics services.”

It is notable that the public transportation service will assist provide inhabitants and tourists of Dammam city and the Qatif governorate with a variety of transportation alternatives and will aid in facilitating mobility within congested central regions and destinations. In addition to reducing traffic congestion, it will also reduce carbon emissions as a result of the frequent use of staff cars and energy usage.