AS PART of the Oman National Railway project, Oman Rail Company is planning to construct a number of key facilities along the Sohar-Buraimi stretch currently under tender.

In all, five intercity passenger stations are planned along the 207-km route of the Sohar-Buraimi corridor, representing Segment One of the 2,135-km national rail network, the Oman Observer said in the report.

These are planned at Hafeet (medium GCC intercity type), Al Wasit (commuter), Sohar City (medium GCC intercity), Zurub (commuter) and Buraimi (small or medium GCC intercity).

Construction of these facilities will be undertaken as part of the multi-billion-dollar design-and-build package of Segment One tendered out by Oman Rail in August.

All 18 international consortiums and joint ventures that were earlier prequalified by Oman Rail to participate in this tender have until December 21, 2014 to submit their proposals.

When brought into operation in 2018, Segment One will connect the Port of Sohar with the GCC rail network at Oman’s border with the UAE at Buraimi and Khatmat Milahah.

As part of this segment, Oman Rail has plans to establish a series of freight terminals between the port and Hafeet, close to the border with the UAE.

Hafeet will host a major complex of freight terminals catering to the handling of containers, break bulk cargo and liquids and rail links will be provided for these terminals.

Sohar Port, at the other end of Segment One, will be equipped with a major intermodal logistics hub that will be integrated with the national rail network through the marshalling yard of the port.

Depots are being planned for the maintenance of rolling stock at Sohar Port, Sohar City, Hafeet and Buraimi.