Qatar Rail awarded RKH Qitarat JV a EUR 3 billion contract to operate and maintain Doha metro and Lusail light rail network for a period of 20 years. The French-Qatari JV is formed by RATP Dev and Keolis (49 per cent) and Hamad Group (51 per cent). Under the contract, before launching transport services, RKH Qitarat will have to recruit and train its staff in less than one year. Within the first three months, the number of employees will rise to 100, reaching 1500 employees in two years.
“We are proud that Qatar Rail entrusted us the operation of such a transport network, which will become a world reference in terms of automatic metro and tramway system. Together with RATP and SNCF, we mobilised the best technical and human expertise to meet this challenge,” Guillaume Pepy, SNCF President said. 
Currently, Qatar Rail is responsible for the construction works of the two urban rail projects. The first phase of Doha metro should enter services at the end of 2018, and starting 2021, the network will carry 640,000 passengers per day.
“This partnership allows Qatar to enter the very small circle of cities with an automatic metro system. This technological breakthrough reflects Qatar’s desire to be at the forefront of innovation and to transmit to its companies the know-how of international experts,” Pierre Abi Nahed, the representative of Hamad Group said.
With a network of 75 km and 37 stations, Doha metro will have three lines – Red Line, Green Line and Gold Line, that will use CTBC technology. The driverless metro system will serve both the capital and the suburbs with all major locations within easy and convenient reach. Under the development plan, the three lines will be extended with 72 more stations. 
Lusail city, situated 15 km far from Doha’s downtown, will benefit from 18 km LRT network (three lines) served by 25 stations. 50% of the network is underground, designed to be an environmental and self-sustaining community. The first section will be put into operation in January 2019, and it will be fully completed in 2020.
Last year, Qatar Rail presented the design of ‘Al Faras’ train for Doha Metro and Al Mehmel’, the Lusail Tram.
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