Hitachi in bid for rail project

RIYADH, 5 August — Japan’s Hitachi company has expressed its desire to participate in the Kingdom’s railway expansion project. Informed sources at the Communications Ministry told Arab News that the company had contacted the Saudi government through its representatives in the Kingdom. The government has approved the executive plan for the project which is estimated to cost SR10 billion ($2.6 billion). The project will be completed in three phases. In the first phase, Riyadh will be linked with Jeddah. There will be another railway line linking the northern and central regions to transport minerals. The third phase will link Dammam with Jubail.