OMAN’S Ministry of Transport and Communications is setting up an expert panel for a railway project that will link up with the GCC rail network.

Transport and Communications Minister Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi said the panel will comprise engineers specialised in railway construction to steer a project of this size.

The minister said that the financial and technical offers from the pre-qualified companies in response to a tender for consultancy services for design and supervision of the project are being currently studied.

The total length of the railway line in the sultanate would be about 1,061 km. It will run from the line that connects the wilayat of Al Buraimi and Al Ain in the UAE to the wilayat of Sohar for 136 km, from Sohar to Muscat governorate for 242 km, and from Muscat to the wilayat of Al Duqm for 486 km.