Oman Plans to Realise National Rail Network Project

Oman’s plans to realise a national rail network are back on track after the government floated a tender for the key design and engineering package of the multibillion project.

Ten companies have been shortlisted from a total of over 30 firms and prequalified to participate in the design and construction supervision package of the project, which will be part of a wider pan-gulf cooperation council network.

The railway network will consist of five different segments, including a 242km Muscat-Sohar line, a 486km Muscat-Duqm line, a 166km Sohar-Al Ain line, a 58km Sohar-Khatmat Malaha line and a 646km Duqm-Salalah line.

The first phase of the project will see the construction of a 280km line that will link Sohar and Muscat.
A branch line from Sohar to Al Ain will also be carried out in the first phase while extensions from Duqm to Salalah and onward to Oman’s border with Yemen are also planned.

The network will consist of a double track and a standard gauge system, which will allow trains to run at a speed up to 350km/hr.