Construction work on Bahrain's BD3bn ($8bn) public transport network is expected to begin by the end of 2011.
Part of a $100bn Gulf rail programme, the network is expected to cover 184.2km.
The network is expected to consist of light rail transport (LRT), a monorail, trams and other systems.
The rail projects are divided into three phases and are scheduled for completion by 2030, reports gulf-daily-news.com.
The BD453m ($1bn) first phase is expected to see the building of 24km of a LRT and tram network that includes a 13km light rail track and an 11km tramline.
The phase is scheduled for completion by 2014.
The BD1.5bn ($4bn) second phase involves the construction of a 72.7km-long network consisting of LRT, monorail and BRT and is expected to be completed by 2021.
The BD1.1bn ($3bn) third phase, slated to begin in 2022 and finish by 2030, will also consist of LRT, monorail, tram and BRT system.
