Scott Wilson wins Makkah Medina rail contract

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International consultancy firm Scott Wilson has won a US $23.1 million (SR 86.77 million) contract to provide project management support to the Haramain High Speed Railway in Saudi Arabia.

The contract was awarded by the Saudi Rail Organisation (SRO) and will run over the next five years with Scott Wilson providing technical engineering and project management support services, said a company statement.

The project will be the first high speed railway in the Middle East linking the cities of Makkah, Jeddah, the new King Abdullah Economic City and Medina via a 320km per hour rail line.

The 440km track will efficiently transport pilgrims to the holy sites and serve as an effective public transport link between the fast growing commercial centres.

“Saudi Arabia is a rapid growth area with continuing investment in key infrastructure,” said Scott Wilson’s group chief executive Hugh Blackwood.

“Scott Wilson is delighted to be involved in such a high profile rail project which provides a further opportunity to apply our growing global rail credentials.”

SRO president Abdul Aziz Al-Hoqail told Arab News that the organisation would receive technical and financial offers for the project’s second phase by the end of next month.

The second phase covers construction of railway lines, signal and communication systems, import of train cars and equipment and operation and maintenance.

“The working team at SRO and Public Investment Fund will study the offers in order to announce the winner of the contract,” Al-Hoqail told the paper.

The government had earlier awarded a $1.79 billion contract to the Al-Rajhi Consortium to carry out civilian works related to the project. Work has already started on the Madinah-Jeddah route.