Transport ministers to meet in Riyadh to discuss plans
The GCCs transport ministers are understood to meeting again in March to decide on a new timeline for the six countries regional rail network.
An unnamed source speaking to Riyadh-based Arab News said a more realistic date for the completion of the GCC railway will be the top agenda in next months ministerial meeting.
The original completion date for the 2,137-kilometre GCC rail network was set for 2018, which everyone now agrees is impossible to meet.
Abu Dhabis decision to suspend the tender for the second phase of its mainline rail in January has created major implications for the other domestic rail lines that were designed to comprise the regional rail network.
The suspension of Etihad Rail phase 2, which was designed to link with the Oman Railway network though Buraimi, is understood to have prompted the sultanate to focus mainly on building a domestic rail network.
The original timeline for the regional rail was understood to help keep the momentum going for Kuwaits national railroad project, due to tender during the first quarter of 2016. Qatars long-distance rail is also expected to tender before the end of the first quarter of 2016.
Studies are also understood to be under way for the rail line along the King Fahd Causeway that will link Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
You might also like...
European finance in place for Tunisia Bizerte bridge
29 March 2024
HZI takes on Dhafra waste energy EPC contract
29 March 2024
Policy designates Masdar, Adnoc as hydrogen coinvestors
29 March 2024
Waste energy projects find relevance
29 March 2024
A MEED Subscription...
Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.