Drake & Scull Rail targets major rail project awards in 2015

Drake & Scull Rail (DSR) is highly optimistic about its prospects of securing contracts on the major rail and urban transport projects underway in the region. The company has refined its manpower and technologies and is well equipped to assume leadership role in the development of the regional rail and metro networks.

Speaking on the sidelines of the company’s participation at the 2015 Middle East Rail Summit, Khaldoun Al Tabari, CEO and Vice-Chairman of Drake & Scull International, expressed his confidence in DSR’s potential growth for the industry in 2015.

“We saw some positive momentum towards the launching of the rail network creation acitivies in our region in 2014. Regional governments have recognized that rising populations have exerted pressure on existing road infrastructure, and only a dedicated rail and metro network can ensure swift and efficient transport of people and goods. According to an Ashurst study in November 2014, the GCC Rail alone is expected to span 2100 km in length, with the UAE and KSA constituting the bulk of the rail network. However, the recent uncertainity regarding the 2018 launch target for the ambitious GCC rail has tempered the regional industry’s expectations to realisitic levels.”

If we look across the region, Abu Dhabi has committed to spending $82 Billion on enhancing its transport infrastructure by 2030 as per “Plan Abu Dhabi 2030”, the Dubai government recently launched the Tram network which it aims to expand along with the Dubai Metro which has been a runaway success. In KSA, the Saudi Railways Commission is developing the $5.3 Billion Saudi Railway Company Line, the Landbridge project, the $7 Billion Haramain High Speed Rail and the $15 Billion Makkah Mass Rail Transit project. The $12 Billion Jeddah Metro and $22 Billion Riyadh Metro too are gaining traction, with significant project awards expected this year. Moving onto Qatar, conservative estimates have pegged Qatar’s spend on the Qaar Integrated Rail programme to be in the region of $40 Billion, with the Doha Metro being crucial to address the need for urban transport in the context of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

We have made significant progress and are tendering for many of the high profile rail projects in the GCC. We have entered into strategic partnerships with leading rail experts from around the world on several of these tenders, and are very confident about securing a major portion of the MEP works on some of these projects.

Our work on the Dubai Airport Passenger Movement Rail, along with our rich experience in the development of rail networks, depot, tunnels and stations proves our strong engineering foundation, and our familiarity with the region’s safety standards. Our ability to offer European engineering skills, with our extensive regional footprint through Drake & Scull’s global network of offices, and our proven track record of major rail works remains unmatched and we look forward to helping create a robust rail network in the regional that will prove to be a boon to the region’s commerce and local population.”

Drake & Scull Rail is an internationally recognized enterprise with a proven record of over 40 years, in delivering turnkey rail construction and maintenance projects in Europe and East Asia. Drake & Scull Rail offers complete EPC solutions for all systems and services for Stations, Depots and Tunnels, catering to industrial, manufacturing, governmental and railroad clients across MENA and South Asia.

Formed by global construction giant Drake & Scull International PJSC, Drake & Scull Rail have completed many rail projects in the UK and Far East rail markets covering a range of complex requirements for railway engineering systems. These projects include underground metro networks, high speed rail, urban commuter rail, and iconic rail terminus’ and rolling stock maintenance depots.

Based in UAE, Drake & Scull Rail have the ability to address the needs of the growing rail sector in the MENA region, utilizing Drake & Scull International PJSC’s network of global offices, with the capability to undertake railway system projects, MEP and Civil works in-house.

Drake and Scull possess the relevant UK accreditation for Health & Safety, Quality Assurance and Environmental Management. Drake & Scull’s integrated quality management systems have been certified to ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001: 2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 standards.

Drake & Scull Rail has successfully delivered the automated Airport passenger movement system at Concourse 4 of the Dubai International Airport, comprising of an elevated dual track guide way, alighting and boarding stations. DSR undertook the MEP portion of works, spanning HVAC, cable management systems, signaling equipment and communication systems.

Previously in Europe, DSR worked on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Line Infrastructure, which provides a high speed rail link between St. Pancras Station in London and the Channel Tunnel portal near Folkestone in Kent, consisting of over 44 Kms of tunnel and 11 Kms of open rail.

Drake & Scull Rail also participated in the Redevelopment of the St. Pancras Railways station, built in 1869 and a Grade 1 listed building rated as extremely important to the UK’s historic heritage. The existing train Shed, which was retained, was the largest enclosed volume and largest unsupported structural span in its time and formed the basis for many station buildings in the United States. In addition to the existing train shed, the station had 250 m flat roof extension with 13 platforms to cater for 400 meter-long Eurostar trains.

DSR were also involved in the design, supply, installation and commissioning of Tunnel Ventilation, normal and emergency lighting, firefighting systems, compressed air and public health services on the Jubilee Line Extension Project, which was one of the largest construction projects in Europe and comprised over 16 route kilometers serving 11 new stations, 3 overland and 8 underground.