Union Railway Company (URC) told contractors this week that the
tendering process for the initial phase of the network will begin
within the next two months, with expressions of interest due by May.
URC expects to invite prequalification bids in the third quarter for
the construction of the 264km line, which will carry granulated sulphur
from the Shah gas field to the port of Ruwais on the Gulf coast. The
line will open in 2013 and will eventually become part of the 2177km
Gulf States Railway, which will link Kuwait and Muscat.

DB says the Al Masaood Group already cooperates with German logistics
companies and is looking to gain a foothold in the railway sector.

DB international has carried out conceptual design studies for URC and
has completed preliminary planning for a light rail line serving the Al
Raha Beach development in Abu Dhabi. DB also has a 49% stake in the
Qatar Railways Development Company (QRDC), which is pushing forward
plans for a Euros 17 billion railway network and a metro in the capital
Doha.