First Segment of Omani Railway to be Built in 2014

At a conference on building the Omani national railway network at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat, it was announced that the first phase of the railway network would be built in 2014. This 171 km section between the port of Sohar and Al Ayn at the UAE border will be the first phase of the 2500 km national rail network, being built as part of the wider GCC network in the region.

The Preliminary Design consultancy Contract has been awarded to Italian firm Italferr which will pass on the building phases of the network to companies as the phases are ready. Tenders for the Project Management Consultancy are being considered at present, and this will be awarded in the next few months.

Meanwhile the Sultanate has incorporated a nationally owned company which will build and run the railways. The Oman Railway Company will oversee the build from start to finish.

The conference was convened to focus investors’ minds as to what they should consider bringing to the table in this massive capital project. It has been noted that though the most efficient inland form of freight transport, none of the GCC states have such a network. Building it will significantly enhance the region’s economies.