Qatar Rail Company is inviting consortiums to submit expressions of interest by 11 September for the design and construction of the infrastructure and civil works of Doha metro.

The civil works covers tunnels, stations and shafts, construction of a viaduct and stations as well as roads and utilities. The work will be carried out predominantly on a design and build basis.

The underground civil works will be more than 89 kilometres, while the major elevated civil works will be more than 70km.

The Doha metro will have four lines and 100 stations and forms part of the Qatar Integrated Rail Project (QIRP). The QIRP also includes an operational control centre, depots, the long-distance passenger service and the freight network.

Most of the QIRP needs to be delivered in time for 2022 when Qatar will host the Fifa World Cup. The entire system is expected to be complete by 2026.

Qatar Rail Company has received three bids for the project management consultancy (PMC) deal for the QIRP. The bidders are all US firms and include Bechtel, Fluor and Parsons Brinckerhoff (MEED 25:7:11).

In related news, Qatar Rail Company has also received bids from seven or eight companies for the PMC contract for the West Bay people-mover. Companies submit their bids on 8 March.

A US joint venture of Aecom-Parsons is the project management consultant for the Lusail light-rail project.