Motive Diesel, Inc. amounts to SR 337, 794,487. It includes building of 25 locomotives with 4,300 Horse Power to be used in tolling 3 KMS long 160 wagons train with each locomotive each having a capacity of 16000 tons for each train. The third contract was inked with China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry (Group) Corporation (CSR) with SR 342, 299, 074 to manufacture and design 668 wagons; 524 of these will be used for the phosphate transfer, each wagon carrying 100 tons of weightage. Such a project comes within the strategic development program that aims to strengthen the means of transportation and the exploitation of the mineral resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in accordance with the decision of the cabinet on 04/03/1424 AH, which mandated the PIF for the establishment of this project in order to transfer the phosphate ores and bauxite from the northern and the central Saudi Arabia to the mining and processing facilities at Ras Zour on the Arabian Gulf. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, pointed out that the value of contracts signed in the railway projects amounted to more than SR 12 billion, including leveling the ground and paving new lines in the Al Nofoud desert as well as the development of the railways itself. In a news briefing after the signing of contracts, Al-Assaf said that the project is progressing as planned and will be concurrent with the implementation of phosphate and bauxite facilities in the Ras Al-Zour, pointing out that the commencement of the 'mining train' starting in 2010 will coincide with the completion of the building facilities at Ras Al-Zour. In this regard, Al-Assaf noted several projects such as the Haramain-Train project signed several weeks ago as well as the land bridge project linking Jeddah and Riyadh and some other primary plans as regards a project to link the GCC states, which is still under consideration in terms of its costs and details. Moreover, there is preliminary approval of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council's states for its implementation. "However, at the end, the resolution depends on its economic feasibility".
