Saudi Arabian Railways (SAR) is inviting companies to submit expressions of interest by 4 February for the project management consultancy (PMC) contract for the planned $7bn Landbridge project.

SAR approached about five consultants to submit expressions of interest. SAR will invite companies to bid at a later date for the design contract. The company is carrying out the tender process for the Landbridge project.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been in control of the development of the project since October 2011 (MEED 9:1:12). The PIF is part of the kingdom’s Finance Ministry and will finance the project.

The Saudi Landbridge is a 950-kilometre-long passenger and cargo railway designed to create a link between Jeddah on the Red Sea coast and the ports of Dammam and Jubail on the Gulf coast, through the kingdom’s capital Riyadh. The project has been delayed for some time because of issues about how to best finance and develop it.