Etihad Rail, the developer of UAE's integrated railway network, has invited tenders from leading construction companies and contractors to provide design-and-build services for Stage Two of the mega project.

Stage Two involves the construction of a rail network in the Abu Dhabi that will connect to the Saudi border at Ghweifat and the Omani border at Al Ain, and also vital areas such as Mussaffah, Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, stated the company.

Etihad Rail said the tender is open to only those companies who have international/local experience in executing major design-and-build freight rail projects covering civil and track works, bridges and drill and blast tunnels to the required high quality and schedule.

The last date for submitting bids is October 18, it added.

The Emirati company had recently signed up Egis, an international group offering engineering, project structuring and operations services, to provide project management consultancy (PMC) services for the Stages 2 and 3.

As part of the work, the existing and currently operated network of 264 km will be expanded between now and 2024 by over 600 km in Stage 2 and 250 km in Stage 3.-TradeArabia News Service