20 February 2003
Saudi Arabian News Digest

Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) has invited bids to choose a financial advisor for the railway expansion project in the country, SRO said on February 19, 2003. All bids and application documents must be submitted by March 1, 2003. The expansion project involves the construction of a 950 km railway between the capital Riyadh and Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, a 115 km railway between Jubail and Dammam, eastern Saudi Arabia, and a 517 km railway between Mecca and Medina, western Saudi Arabia. [Editor's note: SRO's revenue from the transportation of passengers stood at 23 mln riyals ($6.1 mln/5.7 mln euro) and its revenue from cargo operations stood at 97 mln riyals ($25.9 mln/23.9 mln euro) in 2002.]