The first section of the $US 8bn 2750km North-South Railway has been in operation since 2011. Commissioning of the rest of the railway will start next year, and as David Briginshaw reports, Saudi Railway Company is already turning its attention to its next big rail project, the 950km Landbridge.

Saudi Railways Organisation has a lot on its plate. It is upgrading its existing railway in the east of Saudi Arabia, overseeing the construction of the Haramain high-speed line in the west, and developing plans for a second high-speed line and the Saudi part of the Gulf Railway. David Briginshaw visited SRO's headquarters in Dammam to find out how the work is progressing.

IRANIAN Islamic Republic Railways (RAI) says it is seeking finance from China for the electrification of the 926km Tehran – Mashhad line.

AN integrated public transport network of light rail and buses in Dammam could cost Riyals 60bn ($US 16bn) and be implemented by 2021, following its approval by Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers on May 19.

ISRAEL Railways has prequalified four groups for the design, installation and maintenance of slab track and electro-mechanical systems on the A1 fast rail link between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

QATAR Railways (QR) has awarded the ALYSJ consortium a €3.2bn contract for design and construction of the 32km underground Gold Line, one of four lines under development in the first phase of Doha's 354km metro network.

BOTH bores of the 4.6km Gilon tunnel on the 23km Acre – Carmiel line under construction in northern Israel have been completed.

THE SECOND phase of Tehran Metro Line 3 was inaugurated on April 22, when the city's Mayor Mr Mohammad Qalibaf officially opened the 12km extension from Vali-e Asr to Azadegan.

IRAN's New Towns Development Corporation (NTDC) has issued an international invitation to prequalify for a contract to finance, design, build, and commission a 40km suburban line running northeast from Mashhad to the new city of Golbahar.

TEN consortia have been shortlisted for contracts to build two metro lines totalling 44km in the Saudi Arabian holy city of Mecca, according to press reports on April 9.