Sixteen companies have so far picked up prequalification documents for two contracts on Oman’s national railway project.

In mid-April, Muscat invited firms to prequalify for the design contract and for the project management contract by 31 May (MEED 14:4:10).

The project will be constructed in three phases. The first phase will comprise a 230-kilometre line that runs from Sohar to Muscat. The second phase will be a 560km line running from Muscat to Duqm. Oman may then decide to extend the line to Salalah, which would involve building another 580km of track.

Later plans may also see the railway extend into Muscat city itself, which would involve building a metro system.

The 14 companies that have expressed an interest in prequalifying for the design contract are:

• WorleyParsons (Australia)
• Bechtel Corporation (US)
• Kotra (Korea)
• Vissing (Denmark)
• Parsons International (US)
• Dar al-Handasah (Lebanon)
• Typsa Group (Madrid-based)
• Alamar Consulting Group (Egypt)
• Khatib & Alami (Lebanon)
• Mott Macdonald (UK)
• DB International (Germany)
• Mashoor al-Asfoor (local)
• Pell Frischmann (UK)
• TPS Consulting (UK)

Oman’s Supreme Committee for Town Planning has also received prequalification documents from 13 firms bidding for the project management contract.

The firms interested in prequalifying for the project management contract are:

• Bechtel Corporation
• Kotra
• Baker Wilkins & Smith (UK)
• Mace International (UK)
• WorleyParsons
• Vissing
• Parsons International
• Dar al-Handasah
• Mott Macdonald
• DB International
• Mashoor al-Asfoor
• Pell Frischmann
• TPS Consulting

France’s Systra and the local National Engineering Office have carried out the feasibility study for the project.

When Oman’s national railway network is complete, it will form part of the wider GCC railway network.