Kuwait’s Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB) has received more than 60 expressions of interest to supply rolling stock and systems for the Kuwait metro project. According to PTB, it is preparing a request for qualification (RFQ).

The successful company will provide rolling stock and systems for the entire metro network, known as Kuwait Metropolitan Rapid Transit System project. Following this, the PTB will invite bids for the civil infrastructure and operations for phase 1 of the project.

This is the first of five tenders for PPP contracts for the development of the metro system. When complete, the Kuwait metro network will be 160 kilometres long and will have 69 stations. Phase 1 covers the construction of about 50km with 28 stations. About 30 per cent of this phase will be underground. The remaining four phases will be constructed depending on demand. Design-build-finance-maintain contracts will be on offer for the other four phases at a later date. An operations contract will also be tendered.

The PTB has also recommended to cabinet a financing structure for the project, which involves a government subsidy. The metro is part of the PTB’s privatisation programme, which is expected to generate $28bn through the development of 32 projects.

The UK’s Ernst & Young, Ashurst and Atkins is advising on the development of the project.