Firm duo leads on €6.5bn project to link Mecca and Medina by rail

Herbert Smith and Linklaters are advising on a €6.5bn (£5.6bn) project to build a high-speed rail link to connect the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Herbert Smith is advising the Saudi-Spanish consortium selected to build the rail link, with Madrid corporate partners Alberto Frasquet and Miguel Riano (pictured) at the helm.

The consortium, which will construct and operate the Haramain high-speed railway, comprises 12 companies. Saudi holding company Al Shoula Group is leading the group, which includes Spanish construction companies OHL, Abengoa and Talgo, as well as the UK's Invensys Rail.

Linklaters is advising the Saudi Railways Organisation, with Dubai projects consultant Jonathan Inman leading the magic circle firm's team.

The contract was awarded at the end of last month, with the rail link expected to take three years to construct.

Frasquet said: "It will be a challenge to cover all of the different aspects that this deal will involve, but it is one we are well prepared to tackle. We have a history with all of the companies, which should work in our favour, and are delighted with the trust they have placed in us for this exciting project."

Riano added: "Obviously this is a huge success for the firm and for the Madrid office, due to both the scale of the deal and the number of 
companies involved."

The deal is understood to be the largest international contract ever won by a consortium of Spanish companies. The winning bid saw off competition from a French group led by local transport provider Alstom and train company SNCF.

The Haramain railway will be 444km long and will be particularly relevant for those on the Hajj pilgrimage. The journey time between the two cities is expected to take less than two-and-a-half hours.