Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) says that just three consortiums have passed the technical evaluation to build the stations of the $7bn Haramain high-speed railway.

The SRO prequalified eight consortiums to bid for the deal in July (MEED 11:7:10). Only six of the consortiums, however, submitted bids for the deal to build four stations on the railway route.

Package two involves the design and construction of four stations in Mecca, Medina, Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). A joint venture of the UK’s Foster and Partners and Buro Happold completed the design part of the package.

The consortiums that passed the technical evaluation criteria include Saudi Binladin Group, Saudi Oger and Freyssinet Saudi Arabia consortium. The SRO will now evaluate the financial bids.

The UK’s Scott Wilson is providing administrative consultative services to assist the SRO in developing the tenders and evaluating the offers.

The contract for package two of phase one is expected to be awarded in the last quarter of the year.

The SRO received two bids for work on phase two of the railway from the local Al-Shoula Group and Al-Rajhi Holding Group with France’s Alstom on 3 July.

Phase two involves construction of the track, signalling, telecommunications, electrification and building an operational control centre for the railway. Phase two also involves procurement and maintenance of the trains.