SAUDI Railways Organisation has selected the Al Shoula Group for final negotiation of a contract worth around Euros 7bn to equip, operate and maintain the 450km Haramain high-speed line being built to link the cities of Mecca, Jeddah and Medina. The consortium comprises Al-Rosen, Saudi Arabia, and 12 Spanish companies including Talgo, OHL, Dimetronic, Indra, and Spain's infrastructure manager Adif and national operator Renfe.
SAUDI Railways Organisation has selected the Al Shoula Group for final negotiation of a contract worth around Euros 7bn to equip, operate and maintain the 450km Haramain high-speed line being built to link the cities of Mecca, Jeddah and Medina. The consortium comprises Al-Rosen, Saudi Arabia, and 12 Spanish companies including Talgo, OHL, Dimetronic, Indra, and Spain's infrastructure manager Adif and national operator Renfe.
Talgo has offered to supply a fleet of 33 200m-long trains based on the Talgo 350 supplied to Renfe, but modified for Saudi conditions. The contract also includes track laying, electrification, signalling, and train control. Adif and Renfe would be responsible for maintaining and operating the railway for 12 years.
The other bidder for the contract was the Al Rajhi Group which included Alstom and French National Railways (SNCF).
