MTR shortlist imminent

Hong Kong's MTR Corporation is expected to shortlist about three or four engineering design groups to design and supervise construction of the US$732M second phase of Line 4 in Shenzhen, southern China. About half of the 16.5km line will be built in tunnel. Favoured outfits include groups led by Atkins/Arup, Maunsell and Halcrow/Meinhardt.

The MTR Corp stipulated that the lead engineering consultant had to have offices in Hong Kong and China, especially Shenzhen, and previous rail experience in Hong Kong and China.

Outlining the requirements, the MTR Corp said: "Experience and qualification in obtaining design approval for preliminary design from Shenzhen local authorities is a prerequisite."

MTR Corp invited design groups to express interest about two weeks after it signed a provisional agreement with the Shenzhen municipal government to build the second stage of Line 4 (T&TI, February, p10). A formal pact is expected to be agreed by the end of this year.