Saudi Arabia invites bids for railway services

Saudi Public Transport Authority (PTA) has invited railway services companies to submit prequalification documents to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the Kingdom’s main railway networks, MEED reported.

The O&M services will be divided into three modules: including infrastructure management, passenger operations and freight operations.

Specifically, the scope of works potentially includes operating freight and passenger services, management and maintenance of passenger stations, management and maintenance of dry ports, maintenance of rolling stock and signalling and telecommunications infrastructure.

The deadline for companies to express interest and respond to a prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) is Jan. 19, it was reported.

The request for proposals (RFP) is expected to be issued in Q1 2018.

The contracts concerned are for the Riyadh to Dammam network, the current North to South Railway in addition to other under-construction railway networks.

The offer comes as the Kingdom seeks to privatize its railway sector, as part of a wider privatization drive under ongoing reforms o diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil prices.