Saudi Railway Organization (SRO) will start tomorrow receiving prequalification offers from national and international companies to carry out the multi-billion dollar land-bridge project by the middle of next year, according to SRO president, Khaled Alyahya.

"International financial experts will shortlist qualified companies after studying their offers within two months," an Arabic daily quoted. He said the contract would be awarded to qualified consortia by the middle of next year.

He denied reports that the SRO had already selected the companies to implement the landmark project, which is aimed at linking King Fahd Port in Jubail, King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam, the Dry Port in Riyadh and the Jeddah Islamic Port with a state-of-the-art railway network.