Bahrain ‘to seek bidders to develop first phase of metro’, minister says

Phase 1 of the Bahrain Metro network comprises two lines with a length of about 29km

An artist's impression of the planned Bahrain Metro. Bahrain’s transport ministry will “soon” begin calling for bids. Photo: IDOM

Phase 1 of the Bahrain Metro is set to feature two lines and an estimated length of 29 kilometres. Photo: IDOM

There will be 20 stations with two interchanges. Photo: IDOM

A rendering of a planned metro station. Photo: Bahrain Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications

Upon completion, the system will have capacity for 43,000 passengers an hour. Photo: Bahrain Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications

The network will be operated by electric driverless trains. Photo: IDOM

Set to cost between $1.5 billion to $2bn, the project is part of Bahrain’s sustainable urban mobility goals. Photo: IDOM

Bahrain’s transport ministry will “soon” begin calling for bids to pre-qualify developers on phase 1 of Bahrain Metro, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, the country’s minister of transport and telecommunications, said.

The tender will be floated within the next month or two, the minister told The National on the sidelines of the Middle East Rail exhibition in Dubai on Tuesday.

“We expect to go to market soon to pre-qualify developers that can participate in phase 1 of Bahrain Metro,” he said. “It’s a process. We have to start with pre-qualifications, receive bids, evaluate them and then we can go to the next phase after getting all the approvals from the government.”

Phase 1 of the Bahrain Metro network’s ambitious plans comprises two lines with an estimated length of 29 kilometres. There will be 20 stations with two interchanges. The entire network of the electric driverless train system spans 109km and will be executed in phases. Upon completion, the system will have the capacity to transport 43,000 passengers per hour.

Valued at an estimated $1.5 billion to $2bn, the project is touted as part of Bahrain’s sustainable urban mobility goals.

Bahrain, the smallest economy in the Gulf, has faced economic headwinds during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its economy is estimated to have shrunk 5.4 per cent in 2020, driven by a sharp contraction in non-oil output.

According to International Monetary Fund projections, Bahrain’s economy contracted 7 per cent but is set to expand 3.3 per cent this year on the back of its quick response to minimise the economic fallout of the pandemic.

The country’s non-oil economy will grow 3.9 per cent in 2021 as widespread vaccine distribution revives economic activity towards pre-crisis levels, according to the IMF.