QATAR has signed a deal worth QR91 billion ($25 billion) for an integrated railway project with German rail and logistics giant Deutsche Bahn.

Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company signed the venture with Deutsche Bahn (DB) to create the Qatar Railways Development Company (QRDC). The announcement signals that Qatar’s much-anticipated state-of-the-art integrated national railway network will formally move ahead into the development stage.

QRDC, a 51/49 joint venture between Qatari Diar, represented by Qatar Railways Company, and DB, will be the sole entity responsible for developing and integrating Qatar’s visionary railway network, encompassing a range of transport modes such as metro systems, long distance passenger travel, and freight transport.

The company will unify all planned railways in Qatar, including the Doha metro, Lusail light rail, and West Bay people movers. QRDC will also connect Qatar’s network to neighbouring countries via the Bahrain-Qatar causeway, to create the region’s first fully-integrated railway system.

By combining traditional elements with state-of-the-art modern features, QRDC says it will create the region’s most comfortable, reliable, and safe railway system.

QRDC has already completed an initial study, and agreed on the concept design for the integrated railway network. It is now working with all stakeholders within Qatar to coordinate the planning and construction process, and is preparing to identify additional world class partners needed to undertake this massive Qatari development.
The Qatar Railways network will integrate the several planned railway networks into a unified and connected railway system to enable fast and easy travel for residents, visitors, and cargo throughout Doha and beyond. These include:

• An east coast rail link, a passenger and freight railway linking Ras Laffan and Messaieed via Doha;
• A high-speed link between the New Doha International Airport, Doha City Centre, and Bahrain via the causeway bridge;
• A freight rail link based on the GCC rail and Doha expressway studies;
• A comprehensive Doha metro network based on the Qatar transport masterplan; and
• Multiple light-rail people mover networks, such as in Lusail, Education City and West Bay.

The Gulf state hopes to have a full-fledged railway system in Doha and outside the city, with links to other countries as well, by the year 2026.