Four bidding teams have been prequalified to bid to design, develop, construct, commission, finance, operate and maintain the infrastructure, rolling stock and services of a new light rail transit (LRT) system in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan.

With an estimated construction cost of KZT91.245 billion (US$241.2 million), the LRT will consist of 37 stations along a 22.7km double track operating over one of the city’s principal avenues. It is expected to carry between 76,000 and 112,000 passengers a day, with trains arriving every four minutes during peak hours on weekdays.

The prequalified teams are:

1. ITOCHU Corporation, Makyol Construction Industry Tourism and Trading Co., CAF Construcciones Y Auxiliar De Ferrocarriles S.A.
2. China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC)
3. Enka InsaatveSanayi A.S.
4. Alstom Transport Holdings B.V., GulermakAgirSanayiInsaatveTaahhut A.S., Marubeni Corporation, Meridiam Eastern Europe Investments SAS

These four teams have been selected from nine companies and consortia that responded to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), issued in August 2018.

No schedule has been published for the tender process or the construction of the LRT, so it is unclear when the second phase of the tender will be launched or the contract awarded.