Bahrain’s Transport and Telecommunications Ministry has appointed a consultant to draft the request for proposal (RFP) for the transaction advisory contract on the Bahrain light rail network project, sources familiar with the project tell MEED.

MEED understands the procurement process for the light rail public-private partnership (PPP) project, along with other planned infrastructure projects, will be launched at Bahrain's Gateway Gulf Investor Forum in Manama on 8-10 May.

Spanish firm Idom Consulting Engineering Architecture has been undertaking a detailed study for the light rail project.

The study is to be completed this month, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed told MEED in February.

The $2.43m contract with Idom covers: a study of the existing transport system in Bahrain; preparing plans for a proposed network and phases; selecting the best technology for the different phases; the preliminary design of the first phase of the network; the cost of implementing phase 1; and the best method to procure phase 1 of the network.

The study was initially expected to be completed in September last year. However, the contract has been extended due to the ministry’s request for more detailed work in terms of the specifications, alignment and number of stations, as well as the financial business case and the preparation of the prequalification documents.