Contractors had until 2 August to prequalify for over 9km of tunnels as part of the Acco – Carmiel railway line in Israel.
Israel Railways Ltd (ISR) advertised a notice for a pair of parallel single track tunnels, each 4.7km long, cross passages and portal works. Power, communications and ventilation systems for the tunnels would be addressed by a separate tender.
Non-Israeli members of any candidate groups had to be able to demonstrate tunnelling experience amounting to a minimum of 6km of tunnels mined since 1994. Each tunnel submitted as a reference had to be used a for a single track rail line suitable for freight or passenger trains, or alternatively for a two lane highway.
In recent months ISR has also invited prequalifications for the 3.5km Latroun and 1.2km Sha’ar Haguy tunnels as part of section B of the A1 railway line to Jerusalem, as well as the twin 11.6km long tunnels in section C of the A1 scheme.
