Reuters reported that Union Railway, which plans to begin construction on the UAE's rail network in mid 2011 has issued tenders for rolling stock for the Western region railway.

The firm plans to complete an USD 11 billion 1,500 kilometers railway project across the UAE by 2017 that will also connect the UAE to Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Union Railway did not give the value of the rolling stock tender. Earlier this month, it also issued a tender for civil and track works on the same segment of railway. The rail operator's first project will carry granulated sulphur from Habshan to Ruwais for export from state run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's Shah Gas field in 2013.

Union Railway said that construction of the national rail network project is slated to begin in the middle of this year after the contracts are awarded.

Gulf Arab states are spending more than USD 100 billion on rail projects across the region as they tackle poor public transports networks and growing populations.

The six oil and gas producers of the Gulf Cooperation Council seek to create a similar model to Europe's high speed rail system with plans to extend the estimated 1,940 kilometer network to Yemen in the south of the Arabian Peninsula and connect the entire Gulf network by 2017.

(Sourced from Reuters)