Qatar inks $3.3 billion deal for Doha Metro driverless trains

The group consisting of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hitachi, the Kinki Sharyo Co and Thales said on Sunday it has received a letter of conditional acceptance from the Qatar Railways Company for the systems package for the metro project. The consortium led by Japan's top heavy machinery maker, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, struck a $3.36 billion deal to build Qatar's first subway system.

The Tokyo-listed stock climbed 0.69 percent to finish at 654.6 yen on news that the five-member consortium had received the order from Qatar Railways to build Doha Metro. The deal to build the nation's first subway system in Qatar's capital is worth 400 billion yen, a Mitsubishi Heavy spokesman said. The project, which is scheduled to be completed by 2019, includes 75 sets of three-car trains, platform screen doors, tracks, a railway yard and ongoing maintenance. The metro system - covering 241 kilometers with 106 stations - will connect the main areas of Doha, including the Hamad International Airport, the Old City and newly developing inner city areas such as West Bay and Lusail, they said. The system is also expected to be a key transport link between stadiums and facilities during the 2022 World Cup, which Qatar will host, the consortium said. "The city of Doha is facing serious urban congestion due to its increased population and the growing number of cars operating in the city," the statement said. Qatar aims to improve infrastructure ahead of the 2020 World Cup soccer finals in the Middle East country. Mitsubishi Heavy will head the project, while Mitsubishi and railcar maker Kinki Sharyo Co. will be in charge of supplying train cars.

Under the turnkey deal, the consortium will provide 225 train cars, signal systems, communications equipment and maintenance services. The project is for three subway lines with a total length of 86 kilometers in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Automated trains will be employed on the lines, which are scheduled to be opened gradually from October 2018.