Saudi Gazette reported that French and Saudi group including Alstom and SNCF and Spanish led consortium were the only bidders for Saudi Arabia's multi billion dollar Makkah Madina high speed railway.

Saudi officials said that the USD 1.4 billion in contracts will involve laying tracks, installing signals and communications. At least 5 groups, including German, Chinese and South Korean firms had qualified for bidding to build the 450 kilometers Haramain railway linking Islam's holy cities through the Red Sea port of Jeddah.

The bidders were the Al Rajhi group including Saudi builder Al Rajhi, Alstom and state railway SNCF and Spanish bidders together with the Saudi Al Shoula conglomerate.

The winner has to develop the track, signaling, communications and electrification, supply the trains and run and service the project for the initial 12 years of operation.

(Sourced from the Saudi Gazette)