Efforts of GCC countries to ensure interoperability along ... - Unife

The Gulf Cooperation Council for the
Arab States - Secretariat General
GCC Railway Project
Regional Integration Perspective
Railway Industry Forum
Abu Dhabi – 18-19 April, 2012
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Topics
‣ GCC Railway Project - Status
‣ A Regional Integration
Perspective
‣ Project Implementation –
Next Phases
‣ Key Challenges and
Opportunities
‣ Lessons Learned – Way
Forward
‣ GCC Railway Extension to
Yemen
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GCC Railway Project - Status
‣ Feasibility study concluded 2009. Endorsed by GCC
30 th Summit (December 2009).
‣ Project is Economically and Financially feasible:
– (GCC MS Governments pay infrastructure capital costs
based on railway length in each MS).
‣ Concession Operations & maintenance to Private
Sector.
‣ Railway links GCC MS – Kuwait to Muscat with a
Proposed New Causeway between Saudi Arabia and
Kingdom of Bahrain.
‣ Total length estimated 2177 km single track mix use –
passenger and freight transport.
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GCC Railway Project - Status
‣ Total capital cost estimated:
– US$15.5 billion (200 km/hr –Diesel Traction).
– US$25.6 billion (350 km/hr –Electric Traction).
‣ Project expected to be operational about 2017.
‣ Project will:
– Generate significant employment for GCC Nationals.
– Promote social integration & economic development &
growth.
– Advance GCC –SG Initiatives on Common Market and
Custom Union & Trade Facilitation.
– Support building national railway industries in the GCC MS.
– Alleviate congestion and reduce maintenance costs on road.
– Add valuable and integrated mode of transport.
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GCC Railway Feasibility Alignment
GCC Railway
Feasibility Alignment
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Project Implementation – Next Phases
‣GCC MS are well advanced in developing
the Detailed Engineering Designs –
Expected to be Completed by 2012.
‣Construction is expected to commence by
GCC Member States (MS) about 2013/2014
and completed by about 2017.
‣A “GCC Railway Authority” is expected to
be formed to oversee the overall
implementation of the project and
coordinate and organize with GCC MS.
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Project Implementation – Meeting Needs
‣GCC MS formed a Steering Committee
(Financial and Technical) to coordinate with
the GCC-SG to oversee the Implementation of
the GCC Railway.
‣Several GCC MS have signed contracts for the
design and construction of the National
Railway and Metro Plans including the GCC
Railway project.
‣GCC-SG Transport Department is
strengthening its capacity forming a PMU
staffed with skills required to implement the
GCC Railway project.
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Project Implementation – Meeting Needs
‣GCC-SG continues to be the focal point for the
overall organization and communications with
the GCC MS on the implementation of the GCC
Railway.
‣GCC MS established Railway Companies
and/or Authorities to implement the GCC
Railway and National Railway Plans.
‣Agreement with World Bank for continued
Advisory Services in the Railway/Transport
Sector.
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4 Key Challenges - Opportunities
1. Technical:
‣ Finalize the alignment cross Boarders linkage
Points.
‣ Use of Common Standards and Specifications.
‣ Interoperability and regional integration of the
GCC railway.
‣ Design and Construction – Packaging and
Implementations schedule(s).
2. Means of Procurements:
‣ Packaging for Design, Construction, &
Operation.
‣ Prepare Bidding Documents for Concession &
transactions (Need Appoint T/F/L Advisors).
‣ Optimize Completed Detailed Engineering
Design.
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Key Challenges and Opportunities
3. Enabling Environment:
‣ Setting up Adequate Institutional Framework:
• Private Sector Participation in Railway Development.
• Need for Institutional Capacity Building.
‣ Efficient Coordination (SRO, SAR, NTA, Etihad
Rail, Qatar Rail, Kuwait Transport Company, etc.).
‣ Enabling Policy, Strategy & Regulations.
‣ Set-up Economic & Safety Regulatory Authority.
4. Government’s Financial Liability:
‣ Cost of Railway- Capital & Rolling Stock.
GCC MS Cost Sharing.
Determine Government Subsidy, if any.
‣ Cost of Building Extension Lines.
‣ Cost of introduction of high speed passenger
Services.
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Lessons Learned – Way Forward
‣Need to stream line the decision making
process amongst GCC-MS and GCC-SG.
‣Need more stringent procurement guidelines
to ensure selection of required skills and
quality consultants/contractors.
‣Need for a strategic GCC transport sector
review and assessment focusing on regional
networks integration – a transport logistics
perspective.
‣Meeting/understanding GCC National
Environments while adopting International
best practices.
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GCC Railway Link to Yemen
‣GCC SG has completed a feasibility study to
link the GCC Railway to Yemen border.
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