California high speed line impression.

USA: California High-Speed Rail Authority has received five responses to its request for qualifications for the contract to provide early train operator services to assist with the development and management of the initial phase of the high speed line.

By the April 4 deadline, statements of qualifications had been submitted by:

China HSR ETO Consortium

  • China Railway International;
  • Beijing Railway Administration;
  • China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group;
  • China Railway Corp.

DB International US

  • DB International USA;
  • Deutsche Bahn;
  • Alternate Concepts;
  • HDR Inc.

FS First Rail Group

  • Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane;
  • FirstGroup;
  • Trenitalia;
  • Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
  • CentoStazioni;
  • Italferr;
  • McKinsey & Co.

RENFE

  • RENFE Operadora;
  • Globalvia Inversiones;
  • ADIF.

Stagecoach Group

  • Stagecoach Group plc;
  • Coach USA Administration Inc.

A request for proposals is to be released to the qualified consortia in 'spring 2017' with the aim of awarding the ETO contract in the summer. The winning consortium would ensure that the operating perspective is considered during the planning and procurement of civil works, rolling stock and facilities, and ensure that CHSRA plans the system in a way that will make it attractive to riders while minimising operating and maintenance costs.

The performance-based ETO contract would be worth up $30m for the first phase.