Tel Aviv bids in

Four international groups have submitted bids to the NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System for Tel Aviv's 22km long, US$1bn Red Line Metro BOT project.

They are: Siemens, Aecon, HTM, Africa Israel Investments, and Egged; Bombardier, Bouygues, RATP, Assets and Construction, and Dan; Alstom, CGEA Connex, Ashtrom, Housing & Construction Company Ltd, and Polar Investments; CAF, Daewoo International, BVG, Shafir Engineering Ltd, Osif Ltd, Gmul, Granite Hacarmel, and Batemen Engineering Ltd.

About 7.5km of line will be underground 15m-30m below surface. The tunnels will probably be single track, twin-bore, each with a 5.6m internal diameter, to be bored by TBMs.

The pre-qualification process is expected to end in early 2003, for construction to start in 2004. It is hoped that the line will open in 2010, with the successful concessionaire operating the line for 32 years, after which time the system will be handed over to the state.