Four consortiums are interested in bidding on construction contracts on Riyadh’s $3bn light rail transit (LRT) project.

The groups that are interested in bidding are the local Al-Rajhi Group and Japan’s Hitachi Corporation; the local Saudi Oger; the local Saudico and Malaysia’s Scomi; and the local Saudi Binladin Group and Germany’s Siemens, according to a source closely involved with the project.

Saudi Arabia’s Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) is expected to invite contractors to bid for design and build contracts during the first quarter this year (MEED 22:11:09).

The design and build system is often used to minimise the project risk for the owner and to reduce the delivery time as the design and construction phases overlap.

The LRT network will have two lines. The first line will be a 25km north-south line with 23 stations and line two will be a 14km line stretching east to west across Riyadh with 13 stations.

ADA also plans to introduce a bus system to feed into the LRT network later this year.

The consultancy team working on the project includes Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah and France’s Egis Rail.

The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2017.