QATAR Railways' (QR) CEO Mr Saad Al-Mohannadi says that the first tender for the project to build a network of railways across the Persian Gulf emirate will be delayed until the third quarter of 2012.

QR had initially hoped to issue the tender before the end of 2011 but Al-Mohannadi says more detailed studies are needed before the tender is announced.

 

The planned network is intended to link stadiums that will be used for the 2022 Soccer World Cup and will include a line over a new road-rail bridge to neighbouring Bahrain. The projects are estimated to cost a total of Riyals 130bn ($US 35.71bn).