France's Alstom and its national railway operator SNCF along with Spanish firm Talgo are among the bidders for a 450 kilometre railway in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) said on Saturday.

'SRO has announced that Al-Rajhi Alliance and Al-Shoula consortium have submitted their technical and financial offers to Saudi Railways Organization,' the statement said, without giving a value for the contract.

The Al-Rajhi Alliance will include Alstom and SNCF while the Al-Shoula consortium will include Talgo.

The contract will include construction of railway tracks, installation of signal systems and telecommunications as well as the procurement of rolling stock and equipment. It will also include infrastructure maintenance for the project for 12 years, the statement said.

The Haramain Railway will link the spiritual heart of Islam, Mecca, with its second-most sacred city, Medina, to the Kingdom's commercial hub on the Red Sea coast Jeddah.

Up to three million pilgrims visit Makkah every year and struggle to make it to Medina after conducting the annual Haj, or head back to Jeddah airport on overloaded buses and taxis.

SRO is also seeking bids for the railway's four stations which will include a stop at King Abdullah Economic City, an ultra modern city and business hub on the Red Sea that is under construction. – Reuters