Consultancies are in discussions about forming joint ventures to bid for the study to update Dubai’s rail masterplan.

The firms that could be involved in the bidding process include:

• Aecom (US)
• Arup (UK)
• Atkins (UK)
• Aurecon (local office)
• CH2M (US)
• Mott MacDonald (UK)
• Parsons (US)
• Systra (France)
• WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff (Canada-headquartered)

MEED reported in April that Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) is preparing to issue a request for proposals for the study.

Expected to take about nine months to complete, the study will look at updating and modifying the RTA’s proposed future metro lines and other public transport networks such as the tram. It will also consider other rail systems such as personal rapid transit (PRT).

The transport agency’s latest 2030 masterplan includes a 421-kilometre-long railway network with 197 stations.

There are several possible metro new lines, including:

• Red line extension from Rashidiya to Mirdif City Centre
• Red line extension connecting to Dubai Parks and Dubai Waterfront
• Green line extension from Al-Jadaf to Academic City
• Green line extension from Ras al-Khor to Meydan
• Green line extension to Sharjah border
• Purple line connecting Dubai International airport and Al-Maktoum International airport
• Pink line running along Umm Suqeim Road
• Gold line running from Bur Dubai up to Emirates Road and back to Dubai Media City area

The plans also include two extensions to the tram. The first extension will connect the existing network to the Madinat Jumeirah resort and Mall of the Emirates. The second extension will take the tram along Jumeirah Beach Road to the Union Museum area on 2 December Street.

WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff completed the earlier transit study.

Construction work is expected to start this year on the new metro line that will connect to the 2020 Expo site. The RTA received commercial offers from five bidders for the rail link, known as Route 2020, in March, and it is understood two groups have been shortlisted for the design-and-build contract.