Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) will award $1.4bn-worth of contracts for phase two of the 450km Haramain railway project in Saudi Arabia in the first quarter of 2011.
The line is expected to link the cities of Mecca and Medina to Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City.
SRO is in the final stages of looking at the contract bids, which will involve laying tracks, installing signals and communications, as well as operation and maintenance of the entire infrastructure for 12 years.
A group of advisers and consultants including Scott Wilson Group were appointed to study the technical proposals and look into the submitted bids by the contractors Al-Shola and Al-Rajhi, who cleared the review stage last year.
The railway line, already under construction, will also connect to the Landbridge and the north-south line, linking industrial zones with the economic cities in the region upon completion in 2013.
The project aims to reduce congestion on the road linking the two cities during the Muslim Haj and Umrah pilgrimages, and is expected to carry at least three million people each year.
Related links
Jerusalem Light Rail Project
