WORK on Bahrain’s new BD3-billion ($8 billion) public transport network should start by the end of next year.
Ten consultants have now been shortlisted to complete a detailed feasibility study, which is expected to be ready by December 2011, according to Works Ministry road planning and design director Huda Abdulla Fakhroo.

The entire network that is expected to be completed by 2030, consists of light rail transport (LRT), a monorail, trams and a bus rapid transport (BRT) system, which will cover a total of 184.2 km. Early blueprints for the project were unveiled by Fakhroo at the recent Middle East Rail Opportunities Conference.
“Work will begin on the BD453 million ( $1.2 billion) first phase, consisting of 24 km of LRT and tram network, immediately after the studies are completed,” she said.
The first phase will incorporate a 13-km light rail track running from the Bahrain International Airport to Bahrain Mall and an 11-km tramline running from Juffair to Bahrain Mall.
The first phase is expected to be completed by 2014, after which work will begin on the BD1.5-billion ( $3.9 billion) second phase.
The second phase will feature a 72.7-km network consisting of LRT, monorail and BRT and is expected to be completed by 2021, while the BD1.1-billion ($2.9 billion) third phase, slated to start in 2022 and finish by 2030, will also consist of an LRT, monorail, tram and BRT system.
By then, the entire country will be covered by the network, which will significantly ease congestion in Bahrain.
The transport system will be divided into several transit lines, which have been allocated different colours depending on the route.