Saudi Railway Company (SAR) has invited prequalification bids for the construction supervision consultancy contract for the Saudi Landbridge project.

Applications are to be submitted by July 22, said a report in the Saudi Gazette.

The Landbridge project involves the construction of around 1,200 km of railway line linking Red Sea port city of Jeddah with Saudi capital Riyadh, where it would connect with the existing line to Dammam on the Gulf coast.

Project management consultants Fluor Corp and Parsons Brinckerhoff, together with the Saudi Railway, are currently developing the contracting strategy and work package structure for the Landbridge project, which is expected to take 84 months from the start of the contract period, the report said.

The construction supervision consultant would be responsible for verifying contractors’ contractual, safety and quality compliance, as well as quality surveying to verify applications for payment.

Meanwhile, SAR expects to appoint an operating partner for its North–South railway shortly, following the evaluation of bids from international consortia.