Six Consortia Qualify in bid for rail project

Riyadh, 25 June 07

Six International Consortia have qualified for bidding for the Makkah-Madinah Railway Project.

They are as follows:

- Al-Rajhi Consortium led by Mada Industrial and Commercial investment company.

- Saudi Binladin Group consortium led by Saudi Binladin Group.

- Saudi Oger Limited Consortium led by Saudi Oger Limited, Saudi Japanese Consortium led by the Arabian Company for Water and Energy Development.

- Al-Sho'la Consortium for Makkah-Madinah Express Train led by Al-Rawiyyah Group for Transportation.

- O.H.L. International Consortium led by Saudi O.H.L. Company.

The Makkah-Madinah Railway Project is one of two railway network expansion projects envisaged. Its 500-km electric railway line, complete with signaling and communication systems, will link the Holy City of Makkah with the Holy City of Madinah via Jeddah.

The approval came after the Guidance Committee supervising the expansion evaluated seven qualification applications as per international criteria and cleared the technical report prepared by the Saudi Railways General Organization and its consultants UPS Bank, National Commercial Bank (NCB) and French Railway Company.