Bahrain’s Works Ministry has prequalified 10 consultants to carry out the detailed feasibility studies for the first phase of the country’s BD3bn ($7.9bn) rapid transport network.

The first phase involves the construction of an 11-kilometre light rail transit (LRT) line, that will run from the airport to the capital Manama and onto Isa Town Gate interchange and ending at the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway.

The first phase also involves the construction of a 13-km tramway that will connect Juffair with the Seef district.

The ministry hopes to start operating phase one in 2014, Fahmi bin Ali al-Jowder, Works Minister and minister in charge of electricity and water tells MEED.

Al-Jowder tells MEED that the consultants that have been prequalified to carry out the feasibility studies are:

• Atkins (UK)
• Parsons Global Services (US)
• Mott Macdonald (UK)
• Systra (France)
• Aecom (US), RMJM (UK), Steer Davies Gleave (UK)
• Parsons Brinckerhoff (US)
• Dar al-Handasah (Lebanon), DB International (Germany)
• Arup Gulf (UK)
• Scott Wilson (UK)
• Cowi Almoayyed Gulf (Denmark)

Later phases of the rapid transport system will see four more lines added to the network by 2025.