Saudi Arabia has inked three contracts totalling SR7.1 billion ($1.89 billion) covering the construction of 1,765 km of the North-South Railway in the kingdom.

According to Minister of Finance Dr Ibrahim Al Assaf, the work would be completed in 42 months.
The kingdom’s Public Investment Fund has set up a holding company – the Saudi Company for Railways (SAAR) – to administer the project.
A consortium of the Saudi Binladin Group, Mohammed Al-Swailem and German contractors will be responsible for building the 576-km section between Ras Azzawr and Az Zabirah, at a cost of SR2.3 billion. The SR1.9 billion contract for the 440-km second stage from Az Zabirah Junction to the Great Al-Nufud Desert has been awarded to the Al-Suwaikat Group, which is working with China’s 18th Railway Construction Bureau.
The third contract was awarded to Barclay Mowlem of Australia and Mitsui of Japan in co-operation with local company Al-Rashed. Valued at SR2.8 billion, this covers an 818-km stretch from An-Nafoud to Al-Haditha, Al-Jalamid and Al-Basayta.