Oman Rail has prequalified 12 groups for a complex segment of the planned 2,135-kilometre national railway project.

The work will primarily cover segment 4, which comprises a 93km mountainous stretch from Thumrait to the Salalah port. This segment will feature long tunnels drilled through the mountains, including high piers and viaducts.

The prequalified groups are:

• Acciona Infraestructuras (Spain) / STFA Insaat (Turkey)/Tecnimont Civil Construction (Italy)
• Astaldi (Italy) / Samsung C & T (South Korea)
• China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC; China)  / Oman National Engineering & Investment Company (ONEIC; local)
• China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC; China) / Larsen & Toubro (India) / SK Engineering & Construction (SKEC)
• Corsan-Corviam Construccion (Spain) / Cooperativa Muratori & Cementesti (Italy) / Orascom Construction (Egypt) / Zubair Construction (local)
• Eiffage Travaux Publics (France) / Yapi Merkezi Insaat ve Sanayi (Turkey) /  GS Engineering & Construction Corporation (South Korea)
• Porr Bau (Austria) / Yuksel Insaat | (Turkey) / Daewoo Engineering & Construction | (South Korea) / Sarooj Construction Company | (local)
• Saipem (Italy) / Rizzani de Eccher | (Italy) / Dogus Insaat ve Ticaret (Turkey)
• Salini Impregilo (Italy)
• Societa Italiana per Condotte d’Acqua (Italy) / Itinera (Italy) / SWS Engineering (Italy)
• Strabag (Germany) / Consolidated Contractors Group (Athens-based)
• Vinci Construction (France) / Aktor (Greece) / Vinci Construction Terrassement (France)

The main contract for the first segment of the railway project, which links Buraimi to Sohar, is understood to be in the final review stages. A consortium led by Italy’s Saipem is understood to be the frontrunner for the contract.

Construction for the Buraimi-Sohar line is expected to start by the end of 2015. However, Oman Rail’s general manager, Nathan Wiles, said in a forum in Oman on 12 September that they are still conducting due diligence on the contract, which could imply a delay in award and mobilisation are likely.