Qatar preparing rail network tenders - report

Qatar is preparing to tender construction work on one of five rail networks it plans to build over the next 10 years, it was reported on Thursday.

The New Doha International Airport Steering Committee has invited firms to pre-qualify for a contract to build a train station at the $11bn airport that is under construction.

The project involves building a railway station terminal for an express airport rail line that will connect to rail and metro stations in downtown Doha and other rail networks, reported Gulf Times, citing a MEED report.

The report said the steering committee wants to finish the station in time for the opening of the first Phase of the airport in 2011.

Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, in partnership with Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, has already developed a conceptual design for a national railway system in Qatar, Gulf Times added.

The companies’ multi-billion dollar conceptual design has five components including an east coast rail link between Ras Laffan and Mesaieed, a high-speed link from Doha to Bahrain across the planned causeway, a freight link connecting into the planned GCC rail network, a Doha metro network and a light rail network serving residential developments.