Four prequalified consortiums have submitted bids for the contract to build the $5,000 million Saudi Landbridge rail-way linking the kingdom's major Red Sea and Gulf ports in Jeddah and Dammam.

The local Mada, Kuwait's Agility Logistics, and the local Saudi Binladin Group head three of the bidding teams. The the fourth, the Tarabot consortium, includes Korea's Samsung Corporation and Australian rail group Pacific National.

There had been speculation in the rail industry that not all the bidders would enter. Technical and financial analysis of the four bids has now begun. The SRO aims to announce a winning bidder in the first quarter of 2008 (MEED 31:8:07).