The new company will be owned by DB International (49%) and a state-owned company, Qatari Diar (51%).
The new planning and management company will be responsible for setting up a railway organisation and will steer all planning and construction activities for the establishment of one of the most modern metro and railway systems in the world. The project envisages a metro system for the capital, as well as long-distance and freight lines.
The investment will amount to approximately €17 billion.
Participation in the planning company is also of strategic importance for DB, as investments running into hundreds of millions are planned for the establishment and upgrading of rail infrastructure in the Arabian peninsula over the next two decades. DB therefore believes that successful operations in Qatar would offer excellent prospects for securing further business in other Arab countries.
"DB International has already been working on a concept for developing rail transport in the emirate on the Persian Gulf together with our partner company, Qatari Diar, since the autumn of 2008," said Martin Bay, chairman of the DB International Management Board.
The newly formed company will now implement that concept. The metro system planned for the capital city of Doha will have four lines, 98 stations and an overall length of 300 km.
The plans also include a 180 km long high-speed line to Bahrain, which is designed for a top speed of 350 km/h. A 100 km line to Saudi Arabia will be suitable for trains running at speeds of up to 200 km/h. A total line network of 325 km is planned for freight traffic, most of which will also be used by passenger services.
QRDC is in charge of a €700 million budget. DB International will supply two of the four managing directors, including the CEO, for the first four years. QRDC will be responsible for implementation of the entire projects within the scope of the resolved railway transport concept.
