A Japanese-led consortium that includes project manager KBR and consultant Capita Symonds has been appointed to build a new £1.86bn rail system for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

The two have combined forces with architect Llewelyn Davies to form part of the consortium, which will be led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Capita Symonds will be providing civil, structural and M&E design services. Other members of the consortium include Kajima and Obayashi from Japan and Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi.

The 43.5-mile rail link should be completed within five years, with work due to start next month.

The winning international consortium beat competition from Alstom of France, Bombardier of Canada and Siemens of Germany.

The first part of the project will be a 32.5-mile line between Rashidiya and the industrial zone of Jebel Ali. The second phase consists of a 10.9-mile link from the airport through the city centre on both sides of Dubai Creed.

As well as the train link the winning team will maintain the rail system for 15 years.

KBR is the engineering construction and services subsidiary of Halliburton, and is heavily involved in civil infrastructure projects throughout the world.

Source

QS News