FINAL NEGOTIATIONS for a concession to finance and build an 8 km light rail line in the Turkish city of Eskisehir were held on June 13. The municipality had previously shortlisted two groups following the opening of technical bids on May 9. One comprises Yapi Merkezi, Insaat Sanayi and Bombardier Transportation; the second consists of Güris, CAF, Elecnor and Inabensa. Bids from Baytur Insaat and Tulomsas were rejected.
On June 13 the Yapi Merkezi consortium reduced its bid to US$143·9m, against a final price of US$195·5 from Güris and a target cost of US$150m. The municipality expects to announce its preferred bidder shortly. The turnkey contract covers design, construction and testing of the line linking Osmangazi and Anadolu University, supply of vehicles, and staff training, with one year of technical and management support.
