Bahrain’s Transport and Telecommunications Ministry has awarded Spain’s Idom Consulting Engineering Architecture a $2.43m contract for the state’s light rail network project.

Idom will undertake the required studies and architectural design for the project whose initial phase will cover 25 kilometres with a passenger capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 an hour in each direction.

Based on these studies, the consultant will be reviewing and identifying the best routes and drawing plans and designs including the network development phases, routes, specification and technology, according to a statement released by the ministry.

The scope includes identifying procurement options, budget and drafting request for proposal (RFP) documents, which will set the minimum functional requirements for the first phase of the network.

The light rail project is part of the strategic objective to provide alternative and modern transport solutions that will assist in alleviating rising traffic congestion in the kingdom.

Idom submitted the lowest commercial offer for the contract, followed by France’s Egis ($2.54m).

Other firms that submitted an offer include:

• Aecom (US): $4.14m (option 1); $4.74m (option 2)
• Sener-Setec (Spain): $4.48m
• WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff (Canada): $5.43m
• Parsons Global Services (US): $5.56m