Qatar Rail has awarded the RKH Qitarat joint venture a 20-year contract to operate and maintain the Doha metro and Lusail light rail networks.
The contract is estimated to be worth €3 billion to the Franco/Qatari joint venture, which includes RATP Dev, Keolis (49 per cent) and Hamad (51 per cent).
Doha’s new urban rail network will open in phases from the end of 2018. The JV only has a year to prepare for the launch of the new network and is now accelerating its recruitment programme.
Both networks are due to open ahead of the country hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
The driverless Doha metro network consists of three lines — Red, Green and Gold – covering 75 km of track and 37 stations.
The first phase of the Lusail light rail system is due to open to passengers in January 2019. The full network will consist of four lines and, unusually, half of it will be underground.
