Firms that have submitted an offer for the contract to operate and manage the first phase of the Doha Metro and Lusail tramway network expect the project owner, Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), to award the contract soon.

MEED understands four of the six prequalified teams submitted proposals in November last year.

The groups that submitted an offer are:

• Serco (UK)
• Transdev (France)
• RATP Dev (France) / Keolis (France)
• Arriva (UK) / DB International (Germany)

Two other teams, led by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation, did not bid for the deal.

In July, Qatar Rail’s managing director and CEO Abdulla al-Subaie indicated they expect to receive four rolling stock trains before the end of the year.

The trains will be tested on the 4-kilometre trackwork railway test section along the Doha Metro Red Line, which is understood to have reached the 95 per cent completion mark last month.

A consortium comprising Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi, and Kinki Sharyo along with France’s Thales won the $3.25bn systems, rolling stock and track work for the metro in 2015.

Firms are currently preparing to submit proposals for the extension of the Green Line by 1 October.