(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Austria the latest entrant on the list of bidders for the Oman Rail project is eyeing to be part of the consortium that will execute the first phase.
An Austrian delegation with officials from 14 companies and headed by Dr Walter Koren director general Advantage Austria the foreign trade division of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber was in Muscat recently to discuss business.
Speaking to Muscat Daily Dr Koren said 'We are here to explore opportunities related with this huge project. Austrians are the best in the world when it comes to railway. We are known for quality and necessary niche products. The delegation consists of companies that specialise in various technological systems like communication for railways rolling stock hang sliding and rock falling protection meteorological forecasting tracks and turnouts as well as noise and vibration insulation.'
Until now 18 consortia have been pre-qualified for civil works (two of them led by Austrian construction firms) while five firms have been shortlisted for technological aspects.
'Austrian companies have played an important role earlier to supply voice communication systems for the Muscat International Airport and the new Oman Maritime Communication Centre.' Austrians could contribute to similar systems for the railways too he said.
The main purpose of the delegation's visit was to present possibilities from the Austrian side to pre-qualified construction companies and get first hand info from Oman Rail.
'Austria is highly innovative our products are of the highest quality. We adopt a zero tolerance approach and are famous for the best railways in the world. We could position ourselves as high-tech nation with geological knowledge pertaining to tackle mountain areas with tunnels and bridges as Austria has a mountainous terrain. Our engineers are also known for constructing the world's longest tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland' he mentioned.
We are also looking at maintenance and post construction stages like vocational training as well. If the early investment on projects is high the maintenance costs usually work out to be economical.
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