The UAE’s Etihad Rail has asked contractors to submit prequalification forms by 11 September for a contract to design and build the civil works packages for the line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The prequalification notice was issued in July. The previous deadline was 14 August.

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Contractors are also forming joint ventures to bid for upcoming design-and-build works packages for the high-speed rail line project.

MEED exclusively reported on the construction plans for the UAE's high-speed railway (HSR) network in early September. The design speed of the trains running on the network will be 350 kilometres an hour (km/h) and the operating speed will be 320km/h.

The proposed HSR programme will be constructed in four phases, gradually adding additional connectivity to other areas within the UAE.

The first phase involves the construction of a railway line connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which is estimated to be operational by 2030.

The second phase will involve the development of an inner-city railway network with 10 stations within Abu Dhabi city.

The third phase of the railway network involves the construction of a connection between Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain.

The fourth phase involves the development of an inter-emirate connection between Dubai and Sharjah.

The 150-kilometre (km) first phase of the HSR will stretch from the Al-Zahiyah area in Abu Dhabi to Al-Jaddaf in Dubai.

The project’s civil works have been split into two packages (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), comprising four sections (1A/1B/1C/1D). The Abu Dhabi package includes sections 1A, 1B and 1D. The Dubai package includes section 1C.

The scope of these sections includes:

• Phase 1A: Al-Zahiyah to Yas Island (23.5km) 
• Phase 1B: Yas Island to the border of Abu Dhabi/Dubai (64.2km)
• Phase 1C: Abu Dhabi/Dubai border to Al-Jaddaf (52.1km)
• Phase 1D: Abu Dhabi airport delta junction and connection with Abu Dhabi airport station (9.2km)

The project will include significant tunnelling works totalling 31km.

The rail line will have five stations. These will be in Al-Zahiyah (ADT), Saadiyat Island (ADS), Yas Island (YAS), Abu Dhabi airport (AUH) and the Al-Jaddaf (DJD) area in Dubai.

The ADT, AUH and DJD stations will be under ground, while ADS will be an elevated station and YAS will be at grade.

The overall construction package also includes provisions for the rolling stock, railway systems and two maintenance depots.

The high-speed project will slash journey times between the UAE’s two largest cities and economic centres. The journey time between the YAS and DJD stations will be 30 minutes.

The preliminary site testing works have begun. Dubai-based Matcon Testing Laboratory and Abu Dhabi’s Engineering & Research International are conducting drilling tests to ascertain the ground conditions in areas through which the HSR will pass. 

Spanish engineering firms Sener and Ineco are the project’s engineering consultants.