Global engineering consultancy Atkins has won a $135 million contract to lead the design of the Doha Metro’s Gold Line, the company has announced.

The work is expected to be conducted over the next four years on the first phase of the east-west line, which will run from Villaggio Mall to past the Doha International Airport.

In a statement updating the London Stock Exchange on its financial performance, Atkins said:

“We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the role of lead designer for the Doha Metro Gold Line in Qatar. Atkins has been appointed by the consortium of contractors which is delivering the Gold Line on behalf of Qatar Railways Company, comprising Greek contractor Aktor, Yapi Merkezi and STFA from Turkey, India’s Larsen & Toubro and the local Qatari company Al Jabber Engineering.”

The Greek-led consortium was awarded a $4.4 billion contract to build and design Doha’s Gold Line in April.

Aktor has been tasked with boring some 32km of tunnel with six boring machines; constructing 13 underground stations and setting up traffic diversions, among other things, with an estimated completion date by August 2018.

Previously, Qatar Rail had said the first phase of the Doha Metro would be completed in 2017, and be in the testing phase for two years before opening to passenger traffic in 2019.

By this time, some 10 stations are expected to be completed for the Red Line North (which links Msheireb to the Doha Golf Course via West Bay) and eight stations for the Red Line South (which links Msheireb to Hamad International Airport).

Some 11 stations on the Gold Line and 10 stations on the Green Line are also expected to be open by 2019.

The Gold Line runs east-west, starting at Villaggio mall and running beneath Al Waab St. It then follows the road’s northward bend at the Doha Expressway before turning east again at Al Sadd Street.

It curves to cross C-Ring slightly north of Al Sadd Street before veering southeast, cutting through residential areas of Fereej bin Mahmoud and then following Qatari bin Al Fujaah Street and Al Adhwaa Street into the Msheireb station.

From there, it runs below Wadi Msheireb Street/Ali bin Abdullah Street before curving south to follow Ras Abu Abboud Street past the northern end of Doha International Airport’s runway.

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