Saudi Landbridge Project

Saudi Landbridge Project
Overview
Status Planned
Termini Jeddah
Dammam
Technical
Track gauge standard
Operating speed 220 km/h (140 mph)[1]

The Saudi Landbridge Project is a planned railway project which forms part of the Saudi Railways Expansion Programme.[2]

Intended mainly for freight,[1] the railway will connect Jeddah on the Red Sea coast with the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.[3] The existing 450 km line between Riyadh and Dammam will be upgraded,[4] and a second 115 km new line is planned to connect Dammam with Jubail on the Persian Gulf.[3][1] The newly constructed lines will be single track, but the infrastructure (including bridges and tunnels) will be designed to permit a future upgrade to dual track.[4]

Contents

Status

On 21 April 2008 the Tarabot consortium of seven Saudi companies and Asciano of Australia was named as preferred bidder for the 50-year build, own, operate and transfer concession for the Landbridge project, with financial close planned within 12 months.[5]

The Tarabot consortium consisted of the following firms: Adbulaziz Alsaghyir Commercial Investment Co, Abdullatif & Mohammed Al-Fozan Development Co, Abdul Kadir Al Muhaidib & Sons, Omran M Al Omran & Partners Co Ltd, Mohamed & AbdullahI Al-Subeaei, HH Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer Al Saud, Arabian Company for Water & Power Development, Asciano, Pacific National, Orascom Construction Industries, Obrascón Huarte Lain, Allen & Overy LLP, White & Case, Ove Arup & Partners Limited, Atkins, Petrocon Arabia Ltd, and BNP Paribas.

Completion was planned for 2010,[6] however financial close could not be agreed.[7]

On 10 October 2011 the government decided the project would go ahead, but as a state project.[1] The cost was put at up to USD7 billion.[1]

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Saudi Landbridge to go ahead as state project". Railway Gazette International. 2011-10-11. http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/saudi-landbridge-to-go-ahead-as-state-project.html. 
  2. ^ "BAFOs Submitted for Saudi Landbridge Project". Infranews. 2008-02-28. http://www.infra-news.com/newsdetails.asp?iNID=10870&TempID=5. Retrieved 2008-02-28. 
  3. ^ a b Saudi Landbridge Project. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  4. ^ a b "Saudi Landbridge Rail Project". Ashurst. August 2005. http://www.ashurst.com/doc.aspx?id_Content=1908. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  5. ^ "Saudi Landbridge preferred bidder named". Railway Gazette International. 2008-04-21. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/saudi-landbridge-preferred-bidder-named.html. 
  6. ^ Christian Wolmar (August 2005). "The groundbreaking Saudi rail-link". http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/2005/04/the-groundbreaking-saudi-rail-link/. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  7. ^ "Saudi Landbridge PFI to be reviewed". Railway Gazette International. 2009-07-08. http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/saudi-landbridge-pfi-to-be-reviewed.html.