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.
