- Saudi Landbridge Project
The Saudi Landbridge Project is a planned US$3.5 billioncite news | title=BAFOs Submitted for Saudi Landbridge Project | url =http://www.infra-news.com/newsdetails.asp?iNID=10870&TempID=5 | work =Infranews | date = 2008-02-28 | accessdate=2008-02-28]
railway project which forms part of the [http://www.saudirailexpansion.com Saudi Railways Expansion Programme] .The freight railway will connect
Jeddah on theRed Sea coast with the Saudi Arabian capitalRiyadh . [http://www.saudirailexpansion.com/SaudiRailExpansion/inner.aspx?parent=420&secserno=422&prosecno=420 Saudi Landbridge Project] . Retrieved 2008-01-09.] The existing 450 km line between Riyadh and Dammam will be upgraded.cite news | title=Saudi Landbridge Rail Project | url =http://www.ashurst.com/doc.aspx?id_Content=1908 | publisher = Ashurst | date = August 2005 | accessdate=2008-01-09] , and a second 115 km new line is planned to connectDammam withJubail on thePersian Gulf . Completion is planned for 2010. [cite news | title=The groundbreaking Saudi rail-link | url=http://www.christianwolmar.co.uk/articles/think/apr,05.shtml | author=Christian Wolmar | date = August 2005 | accessdate=2008-01-09]The newly constructed lines will be single track, but the infrastructure (including bridges and tunnels) will be designed to permit a future upgrade to dual track.
On
April 21 2008 the Tarabot consortium of seven Saudi companies and Asciano of Australia was named as preferred bidder for the 50-year build, own, operate and transfer concession for the Landbridge project, with financial close planned within 12 months. [cite news | title=Saudi Landbridge preferred bidder named | url =http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/04/8365/saudi_landbridge_preferred_bidder_named.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=83&cHash=c374140674 | work =Railway Gazette International | date = 2008-04-21 ]The Tarabot consortium consists of the following firms:
Adbulaziz Alsaghyir Commercial Investment Co, Abdullatif & Mohammed Al-Fozan Development Co, Abdul Kadir Al Muhaidib & Sons, Omran M Al Omran & Partners Co Ltd, Mohamed & AbdullahI Al-Subeaei, HH Prince Sultan bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Kabeer Al Saud, Arabian Company for Water & Power Development, Asciano, Pacific National, Orascom Construction Industries, Obrascon Huarte Lain, Allen & Overy LLP, White & Case, Ove Arup & Partners Limited, Atkins, Petrocon Arabia Ltd, andBNP Paribas.
Western railway
Under a separate project a third new line, the Western Railway high speed line, is planned to connect
Mecca andMedina (a distance of approximately 444 kmcite news | title=Saudi bidding hots up | url =http://www.railwaygazette.com/news_view/article/2008/03/8230/saudi_bidding_hots_up/archive/landbridge.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=110&cHash=27d21fecee | work =Railway Gazette International | date = 2008-03-10 ] ) for an estimated cost of US$5.3 billion. A 50-year build, operate, transfer contract is planned.External links
* [http://www.saudirailexpansion.com/ Saudi Rail Expansion site]
* [http://www.saudirailways.org/ Saudi Railways Organization]References
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