Qatar Railways Company yesterday signed five contracts at a total cost of QR 1.48bn to signal the beginning of the fi rst phase of the state’s integrated railways project within the first quarter of 2013. The Qatar integrated railways project will incorporate a metro system and a long-distance passenger travel and freight transport network. An enabling work contract agreement worth QR.288 Million was signed between Qatar Rail and the consortium Porr-SBG-HBK group. Qatar Rail’s executive committee Chairman Mr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Subaie and HBK’s Chairman & Managing Director Sheikh Ali bin Hamad al-Thani signed the agreement in the presence of Qatar Rail’s chief executive officer Mr. Saad Ahmed al-Mohannadi