Oman Rail has received 11 bids from contractor groups looking to build the 171km first phase of its rail network.

Bidders looking to build the first phase linking from the UAE's border through to Buraimi and the port of Sohar include five Italian-led consortia, three Chinese-led groups, two Indian firms and bids from Korea's Hyundai and Austria's Porr Group.

A full list of the consortiums who have submitted bids appears below.

Phase one of Oman Rail has been broken into three different phases - a 136km-long line from the UAE border to Sohar, a 27lm-long line to Al Buraimi and an 8km branch through Sohar Port and Freezone. The tender was issued in August.

Speaking at a GCC rail conference last month, Oman's Minister for Transport and Communications Dr Ahmed Salim Al Futaisi said the first phase tender would be awarded this year, as well as a contract to build a railway centre of excellence. Phase two tenders covering 330km from the UAE border to Sanaw are due to be issued this year.

Designs, which are being completed by Italian consultancy Italferr, are also due to complete this year.

Bidding consortiums:-
1. Joint venture of Porr (Austria), Yuksel Insat (Turkey), Sarooj Construction Co (Oman) and Daewoo E&C (South Korea)
2. Joint venture of Saipem (Italy), Rizzani De Eccher (Italy), Dogus Insaat (Turkey)
3. Joint venture of Ircon International (Italy), Hani Archrodon (Greece/Oman), Tata Projects (India)
4. Joint venture of Larsen & Toubro (India), FCC Construction (Spain), Khalid Bin Ahmed & Sons (Oman)
5. Joint venture of China State Construction Engineering Co (China) and S&K E&C (South Korea)
6. Joint venture of Astaldi (Italy), ONEIC (Oman), Yapi Merkezi (Turkey), Corsan Corviam (Spain)
7. Joint venture of Hyundai E&C (South Korea), Hassan Juma Backer (Oman), Assignia (Spain), Maire Tecnimont (Italy)
8. Joint venture of China Railway Group and Mapa Insaat ve Ticarat (Turkey)
9. Salini Impregilo (Italy)
10. Joint venture of China Railway Construction Corp, International Contractors Co (Oman) and Mohammed Al Kharafi (Kuwait)
11. Joint venture of Societa Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua (Italy), Federici Sterling (Italy), SWS Engineering (Italy) Itinera (Italy).