Consortiums Bid for Oman Rail Project Management

Five international engineering and consulting groups have submitted technical proposals to provide project management consultancy (PMC) services for the construction of Oman’s OMR6bn ($15bn) national railway network.

The 1,061km national rail network, which will be built in phases, will be linked to the proposed Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail system that will eventually connect all six member states.
There have been 29 companies to show interest and collect tender documents for the consultancy package, but only five consortiums submitted firm bids by the submission deadline.
The five consortiums are led by US-based consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, Spanish engineering firm Tecnicas Reunidas, US-based project manager Hill International, South Korean engineering consultant Dohwa Engineering and Parsons International.
The Tecnicas Reunidas-led consortium includes Dar al Handasah and Spanish transport and engineering consultancy firm INECO, while Hill International has teamed up with German railway consultancy DB, Middle East-based EHAF and The Louis Berger Group (LBG).
The consortium led by Parsons International includes Aecom and French rail consultancy Systra, while the Dohwa Engineering consortium comprises National Engineering Office (NEO) of the Sultanate of Oman, Korea Rail Network Authority, First China Railway and Balaji Railroad Systems (India).
The winner of the PMC contract will be responsible for the entire execution of the project and is also expected to work with the Omani government and its representative institutions after the rollout and launch of the rail network.
The selected consortium will be responsible for the procurement of rolling stock, reviewing the contract process, supervision of contract management and construction, as well as project management services.
The first phase of the project includes a 242km section from Sohar Port to Al Misfah in Muscat, an 8km spur line to Sohar Railway Yard and a 20km link from Al Misfah to Muscat Central Station, as well as a 486km line from Muscat to Duqm Port and an 84km link from Sinaw to Ibra.
A 136km track from Sohar to Al Ain with a 27km spur to Buraimi and a 58km track from Sohar to Khatmat Malaha are also part of the first phase of the project.