Oman Rail is looking to tender key contracts for its planned 1,061-kilometre rail network by the second quarter of 2013.

The transport ministry announced in September that it was retendering all contracts related to phase one of the project.

The ministry has also decided to opt for a different model for the project, issuing tenders for three key contracts: a project management consultant (PMC) contract, a PMO contract, and a design contract.

A source familiar with the project says that 12 companies have been shortlisted for the PMC contract and that tenders are expected to be released in at the end of the first quarter, if not the early part of the second quarter.