All bids for construction contracts on the 125 kilometre Jubail-Dammam railway line have been received and continue to be evaluated.

Speaking on October 16 at MEED’s Mena Rail Projects 2012 conference in Abu Dhabi, Bashar Almalik, director of civil and track works at Saudi Railway Company (SAR), told delegates that contracts are likely to be awarded before the end of the year.

Contracts for SAR’s Jubail-Ras al-Khair rail connection have already been awarded and construction began in September, Almalik confirmed.

The rail link between Ras al-Khair and Jubail will be used for transporting industrial goods and products. The complete railway will take three and a half years to complete. The work also includes geotechnical investigation, earthworks, procurement of all materials and equipment, track-laying, rail welding, installation of pipes and utilities, and the construction and installation of bridges and culverts.