The two contracts cover locomotives, wagons, spare parts and workshop
equipment for the 264km Shah Habshan Railway, a 264km heavy-haul
freight line linking the Gulf Coast port of Ruwais with the Shah gas
field.

Union Railway is seeking a fleet of 3MW diesel locomotives with ac
traction, and covered hopper wagons with bottom discharge capable of
carrying a 100-tonne payload of granulated sulphur. The wagons will be
equipped with electronically-controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes. The
closing date for prequalification responses for both locomotive and
wagon contracts is October 3 and the winning bidder will be announced
early next year.

Expressions of interest have already been invited for the civil and
track works contract, which is due to be awarded in March. Test
operation will begin in 2013 and full commercial services will start in
2014.