Etihad Rail has awarded a US$900mn civil and track works contract to an Italian-UAE joint venture as the first phase of UAE?s national railway network gets underway.
The civil and track works contract has been awarded to Italy's Saipem, Tecnimont and UAE-based firm Dodsal Engineering & Construction PTE Limited, a statement from Etihad Rail said.
The contract is for the first stage of the rail network linking the western region cities of Habshan and Ruwais by 2013 and linking Shah and Habshan by 2014.
Civil & Track Works contract comprises the design, procurement and construction of the railway infrastructure, in addition to the testing and commissioning (on a design and build basis) of all assets relating to the completion of the first phase of the project. In addition to that, the contract includes the earth works and track?s site grading, bridge structures, communication systems, and the development of the depot at Mirfa.
This milestone contract truly marks the start of the realisation of a national railway network on the ground and beyond the planning stages.,' Richard Bowker, chief executive of Etihad Rail said in the statement.
Earlier this week, Etihad Rail signed an agreement with Adnoc for transporting up to seven million tonnes of granulated sulphur annually.
