Bahrain will tender for consultants to advise on the construction of a new light rail project by the end of this year.
Mariam Jumaan, Bahrain’s Deputy Minister for Land and Transport said that once the GCC rail network is established, the kingdom will need alternative forms of public transport to its existing bus network.
“There have been studies carried out in Bahrain previously. We’re updating those now and looking at alternative methods of transport like light rail,” she said. “Bahrain is very small, so I don’t think we’re looking at metro or even a tram because the country is so small there are no rights of way. We’re going to tender – hopefully before the end of the year – on consultancy services to revisit those old studies and look at options”, Mariam Jumaan said the Mena Rail and Metro Summit.
Ms Jumaan also called for studies into the establishment of a GCC-wide procurement strategy and supply chain network before the most significant elements of the project get under way.
For instance, she said that more than 21,000 kilometres of rail, 22 million cubic metres of ballast and 40 million rail sleepers are needed, alongside all of the plant, consultancy services, contractors and operational training for up to 80,000 staff.
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