Royal Commission for Riyadh City Announces Start of Stage 2 of Riyadh Bus Service

SPA
SPA
TT

Royal Commission for Riyadh City Announces Start of Stage 2 of Riyadh Bus Service

SPA
SPA

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced the start of the second stage of the "riyadh bus" service (part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport) on the 19th of June 2023, which will witness the addition of 223 more buses serving the vast Riyadh city neighborhoods.

 

The step will be providing access to 500 bus stations and stops covering 9 extra routes, including the extension of Line 11, dedicated bus lane service, as part of the overall 86 bus network routes. With the addition of Stage 2, the overall network expansion encompasses 560 buses serving over 1100 bus stations and stops and a total of 24 routes; that to date witnessed 180,000 trips with over 2 million passengers.

The second stage of the “riyadh bus” expansion witnesses the coverage of 1120 kilometres out of 1900 kilometres of the total riyadh bus service, with subsequent stages to follow within the five-stage launch plan to introduce more buses, stations, and routes, state news agency SPA reported.

In line with the sustainability strategy for the city and driven by the need to reduce pollution with a focus on positively impacting the quality of life, “riyadh bus” will help alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution resulting from carbon dioxide emissions.

The integration of a public transportation network plays a significant role in the city’s development that will help boost the local economy, support logistics and transportation needs, and improve the urban environment. With the aim to reduce pollution at the same time positively impacting the quality of life for people and city of Riyadh incorporating the Quality-of-Life program, the project is a main pillar in the city’s economic and urban transformation.

With a theme that builds on “more routes, stops, and buses” the “riyadh bus” stage 2 campaign covers key announcements featuring the “riyadh bus” app enhancements and ticket offering.

The enhanced functions on the app include ‘choose your journey’ ease of selection, payment processes, and live bus tracking; that will further ease the usage of the app for the passengers helping in faster ticket purchase and seeing their routes live to select the best trip options. More tickets options have also been added as passengers can select from purchasing a 3-day, 7 day, and 30 day passes.



Buyer Splashes Out $1.3 Million for Tokyo New Year Tuna

 The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
TT

Buyer Splashes Out $1.3 Million for Tokyo New Year Tuna

 The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)
The head of a 276-kilogram bluefin tuna that was auctioned for 207 million Japanese yen (about 1.3 million US dollars), which was bought jointly by sushi restaurant operator Onodera Group and wholesaler Yamayuki, is carried by a sushi chef at an Onodera sushi restaurant after the first tuna auction of the New Year in Tokyo, Japan January 5, 2025. (Reuters)

The top bidder at a Tokyo fish market said they paid $1.3 million for a tuna on Sunday, the second highest price ever paid at an annual prestigious new year auction.

Michelin-starred sushi restauranteurs the Onodera Group said they paid 207 million yen for the 276-kilogram (608 pound) bluefin tuna, roughly the size and weight of a motorbike.

It is the second highest price paid at the opening auction of the year in Tokyo's main fish market since comparable data started being collected in 1999.

The powerful buyers have now paid the top price for five years straight -- winning bragging rights and a lucrative frenzy of media attention in Japan.

"The first tuna is something meant to bring in good fortune," Onodera official Shinji Nagao told reporters after the auction. "Our wish is that people will eat this and have a wonderful year."

The Onodera Group paid 114 million yen for the top tuna last year.

But the highest ever auction price was 333.6 million yen for a 278-kilogram bluefin in 2019, as the fish market was moved from its traditional Tsukiji area to a modern facility in nearby Toyosu.

The record bid was made by self-proclaimed "Tuna King" Kiyoshi Kimura, who operates the Sushi Zanmai national restaurant chain.

During the Covid-19 pandemic the new year tunas commanded only a fraction of their usual top prices, as the public were discouraged from dining out and restaurants had limited operations.