The California High-Speed Rail Authority has issued a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) seeking private sector interest in participating in the development of a high-speed rail system in the US state of California.
The RFEI is the first step in the procurement process for the award of contracts worth $5.5bn for design and construction of the entire system, trainsets, operations and maintenance.
The RFEI applies to the initial construction segment, about 120 miles through California's Central Valley, as well as any future phase of the project, including financing, core systems including trains, electrification, signalling, operations and maintenance.
The RFEI will be followed by a request for qualifications and a request for proposals later this year.
Companies can submit applications until 16 March 2011.
