30 September 2013
Two US engineering firms have been assigned project managers for the new Saudi "Landbridge" rail project, the country’s first east-west, port-to-port rail link.
Parsons Brinckerhoff and Fluor will help develop complex elements of the new railway, such as the tunnels and bridges that will be needed to cross the varied terrain.
The contract period is approximately eight years.
The exisiting Riyadh to Dammam railway line will be expanded as part of the contract (Lijorijo/Wikimedia Commons)
The project is funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and involves the construction of a 950km line between Riyadh and Jeddah, a 115km line between Dammam and Jubail and expansion of the existing Riyadh to Dammam railway.
Once complete, the railway will cut cargo transit time between the two coasts from seven days to 18 hours.
The line will eventually serve passengers, cutting the journey time between Jeddah and Riyadh from 10 to 12 hours down to six.
In August, Italian firm, Italferr, was awarded a 14-month contract worth $37m contract to design the rail link.
