Alcatel-Lucent to present role of ICT in rail industry at Kingdom Project Expansion and Investment Summit

The event - organised by Naseba - will take place from November 9th - 10th, 2009 and will focus on the development challenges in terms of transport, infrastructure, healthcare, energy, utilities, hospitality and real estate that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has to deal with.

Alcatel-Lucent, a world leader in the delivery of communications solutions for businesses and the Industry & Public Sector, has confirmed their participation as 'Gold Partner' and will speak on the second day of the event. Alcatel-Lucent's presentation will focus on the tools needed to develop a successful rail network, including Information and Communications Technology (ICT), security, reliability, efficiency and the generation of added revenue.

"Rail operators are confronted by unique challenges, intensified by stringent safety and security requirements, to deliver on-time and reliable services and to ensure a free flow of traffic. This while reducing spiralling operational expenses. Maintaining security on a rail network involves preserving security and surveillance, while assuaging the privacy concerns of passengers and allowing services to run smoothly. The security of the critical ICT infrastructure is also important. An integrated telecommunications network greatly assists the operators to improve operational efficiency, enhance safety and security, generate new revenue streams, and enrich services for the end-user,"

said Robert Herritty, Vice President Transportation Market for Enterprise and Vertical Markets in Alcatel-Lucent.

According to several online media reports, the Gulf region's rail network is in for a massive upgrade over the next few years, with a giant railway linking the six-nations Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) set to begin operations in 2017.

The project, said to have been approved by GCC leaders and estimated at around $25bn, is expected to cover 2,000km.

Meanwhile, several international companies are bidding for a 450km railway in Saudi Arabia, one of three railway projects planned for the Kingdom. The Haramain Railway - or the Two Holy Mosques Railway - will link Makkah and Madinah to the Kingdom's Jeddah.

The two other railway projects in Saudi Arabia involve a 1,000km long Land bridge that links the eastern and western coasts, as well as a North-South link that will be used for mining and passenger transportation.

According to reports, the commissioning of the above projects should start in 2012 with the Haramain Link eventually joining the GCC rail network.