Oman Railway has postponed the deadline for submitting bids for a multifunctional consultancy services contract by a week to December 15, said a report.

The extension is designed to enable a wider response from qualified international consultancy firms to participate in the competitive tender, reported The Oman Observer, citing sources.

A large number of international firms are expected to compete for the contract, which requires the selected firm to demonstrate expertise across seven key areas of railway development and operations such as operation and maintenance; infrastructure; rolling stock; management; railway facilities; mass transit system and auxiliary services (ports and mines), it stated.

The winning bidder will serve as an 'advisor' to the national rail company, notably in the development of a rail network optimised for heavy haul bulk operations, said the report.

The scope of work will include developing a system, complete with simulations, to identify and define the specific types of terminals and facilities required to support the operation of heavy haul freight systems suitable to handle axle loads of 32.4 tonnes and more, as well as mixed (freight and passenger), and mass transit (metro and light rail transit) systems.

Given this wide-ranging scope, interested consultants must demonstrate proven expertise encompassing heavy haul railway design, development and operation of commercial terminals, maintenance requirements based on freight and passenger demand projections, and integration of railway systems, said the report.

Additionally, the consultant should be adept at providing schematic concepts, based on reviews of previous studies, in preparing training running simulations, operational plans, maintenance plans, design guidelines of complete infrastructure and systems for all commercial terminals and freight maintenance facilities, it added.