A consortium of 13 Spanish companies, led by Renfe Railways, is reported to be in the final stages of bagging the $10 billion contract to build the high-speed Saudi Railways Organization's Al-Haramain Projects, a 450-kilometer track linking the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madina via Jeddah. “The process is very advanced, the Spanish bid is in a good position but it is not yet finalized,” a spokesman for the Spanish transport ministry was quoted as saying by the Spanish media. The business newspaper El Economista said that Transport Minister Jose Blanco had confirmed on Monday to members of the consortium that they had won the contract. Another business paper, Cinco Dias, said the consortium has received “the official confirmation from Saudi Arabia.” However, officials of Saudi Railways Organization at its national headquarters here in Dammam refused to confirm the award of the contract to the Spanish consortium. The Al-Haramain lines will mainly serve the annual influx of some 2.5 million Haj pilgrims. It will also decongest the road traffic between Makkah, Madina and Jeddah, provide comfort, safety and speed to train passengers, and reduce the pollution caused by millions of vehicles traveling within the region. The Al-Haramain route is a high-speed electrified passenger line designed to provide a fast, comfortable, reliable and safe mode of transport. __
