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07 October 2015 – Dubai, UAE:
BAHRAIN TO INVITE LIGHT RAIL CONSULTANCY BIDS SOON
Bahrain is preparing to invite bids before the end of 2015 for the initial work on its proposed light rail network and how it will connect with the GCC railway; the MEED MENA Rail & Metro Summit was told this morning.
“The next phase is to connect the GCC railway with Bahrain's public transport network,” Bahrain's Deputy Minister for Land and Post Mariam Jumaan, Undersecretary, Land transportation at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (Bahrain) said. “We are looking at the possibility of light rail and we are going out to tender for consultancy for this project.”
Jumaan said that that this will involve reviewing earlier studies about possible public transport modes in Bahrain. She said that neither a metro nor a tram system would work in Bahrain which has limited available land. She said that an elevated light rail network is possible. This could be a monorail she added.
Jumaan said that the feasibility study into options for expanding the King Fahad Causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain commissioned from Canada's SNC Lavalin will soon be completed. It will include recommendations about whether an expansion of the causeway should include the construction of a road-only link or one that supports both road and railway traffic. She said that once this has happened, construction of the causeway expansion can proceed.
Almost 27,000 cars a day used the causeway in 2014 compared with under 24,000 in 2013.
Almohaisen said plans call for the private sector to be involved in the operation of the new causeway.
Jumaan called for action to promote an integrated GCC supply chain.
“The GCC is enjoying a railway boom,” Jumaan said. “Railway projects are a catalyst for growth…A study looking at an overall railway programme for the region… would be useful at this point of time.”
MEED CONFERENCE TOLD 36,000 KILOMETERS OF RAIL PLANNED IN MIDDLE EAST
A total of 36,000 kilometers of new railway, metro and light rail lines are planned in the Middle East compared with 19,970 kilometers that exist now, the MEED MENA Rail & Metro Summit in Dubai was told this morning.
“The total value of all projects planned or under construction in the Middle East is $427bn,” MEED Projects director of content and analysis Ed James, Director of Content and Analysis at MEED Projects said. “Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar are the biggest markets. But across the board, we are seeing very ambitious railway projects planned.”
The largest planned project is the Riyadh-Dammam high speed project worth $14bn which is under study, James said. Other major projects planned include Tehran Metro's lines eight and nine and four express lines. The Jeddah Metro is to be tendered by the end of this year, James said.
MEED CONFERENCE TOLD INVESTORS INVITED FOR $300M JORDAN RAIL PROJECT
Amman is inviting investors to support a $300m railway line between Amman and Amman Airport that will follow the alignment of the Hejaz Railway, the MEED MENA Rail & Metro Summit in Dubai was told this afternoon.
The line will be 32 kilometres long and have 12 stations, Jordan Hejaz Railway Deputy Director Abdullah Malkawi said. He said plans call for the line to be extended to Zarqa, Jordan's second city.
MEED conference told tests of initial Doha Metro section to start in autumn 2016
Tests of the first part of the Doha Metro are due to start in the autumn of 2016, setting the scene for the full completions of the project's $15bn first phase in 2019, MEED's MENA Rail & Metro Summit in Dubai was told this afternoon.
Louis Berger Egis Rail joint venture (LBERJV) Project Director Peter Housley said that the civil work in the 6km elevated and at grade section of Red Line South is due to be finished in less than one year's time.
LBERJV provides project management consultancy services for elevated and at-grade sections of Red Line North, Red Line South and the Green Line. They have a combined length of about 16 kilometres.
“Civils design is complete with only the design of stations fit-outs remaining,” Housley said about the progress of Red Line South. “The enabling batching plant and precast yard are fully operational and are working at peak capacity.”
“More than 75 per cent of all foundations and more than 60 per cent of all piers are complete and 35 per cent of all pier caps have been installed in readiness for viaduct installation,” Housley said.
Housley said that nine viaduct spans have been completed. The Red Line South elevated and at grade project calls for the construction of three stations: Economic Zone, Ras Abu Fontas and Wakra.
“The stations at Economic Zone and Ras Abu Fontas have progressed to concourse level,” Housley said. “The Al Wakra station is progressing at a pace.”
Work has started on station mock-ups where finishes and fittings can be displayed and approved.
The 11th MEED MENA Rail & Metro Conference is being held under the patronage of HE Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works and chairman of the Federal Transport Authority of the UAE. The event is hosted by the Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime. The summit is sponsored by EY (Gold Sponsor), Hitachi (Gold Sponsor), Louis Berger (Gold Sponsor), Alstom (Silver Sponsor), Bentley (Silver Sponsor), Comply Serve (Silver Sponsor), Vossloh (Lunch Sponsor), Parsons (Bronze Sponsor), DLA Piper (Bronze Sponsor) and Siemens (Bronze Sponsor), Hill International (Conference Sponsor), AREP (Exhibitor), Soldata (Exhibitor), Lafarge (Exhibitor), Simmons & Simmons (Official Wifi Sponsor).
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