Firms bidding for the systems, rolling stock and track work contract for the first phase of the Doha Metro network have given presentations to the project client, Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail).

Offers for the multibillion-dollar deal were submitted by Germany’s Siemens; a team of Italy’s Ansaldo STS and Spain’s CAF; a group of three Japanese companies – Mitsubishi, Hitachi and Kinkyshario, and France’s Thales in March.

The six-year contract covers the design, integration, manufacturing, supply, delivery, testing and commissioning of the trains and other required equipment.

Contractors in Qatar are preparing to submit bids on 14 April for two construction contracts on the Doha metro scheme.

One deal involves building the elevated and at-grade sections of the Red Line North. The other involves building the elevated and at-grade sections of the Gold and Green lines.

In March, Qatar Rail awarded a consortium of Spain’s FCC, Geneva-registered Archirodon Construction, Turkey’s Yuksel and the local Petroserv a $700m contract to build a section of Doha Metro.

Also in March, the project client selected the consortium of Greece’s Aktor, Turkey’s Yapi Merkezi and STFA, India’s Larsen & Toubro and the local AlJaber Engineering for the estimated QR12bn ($3.3bn) deal to build the underground sections of the Gold Line.

A letter of award has been issued by Qatar Rail to the consortium and a final contract is expected to be signed during April.

Doha Metro was one of the region’s most active schemes for contract awards in 2013. In late May and early June, Qatar Rail awarded construction deals for underground sections and two stations.

The estimated QR8bn Red Line South underground sections construction package was awarded to the consortium of the local/French QDVC, South Korea’s GS Engineering & Construction and the local Darwish Engineering.

A team of Austria’s Porr, Saudi Binladin Group and the local HBK Contracting Company won the estimated QR8bn deal to build the underground sections for the Green Line.

The estimated QR8bn deal for the Red Line North underground sections was secured by a group of Italy’s Impregilo, South Korea’s SK Engineering & Construction and the local Galfar al-Misnad Engineering & Contracting.

South Korea’s Samsung C&T, Spain’s OHL and Qatar Building Company won the estimated QR4bn contract to build two major stations at Msheireb and Education City.