Deutsche Bahn in $25bn Qatar and Bahrain rail deal

Deutsche Bahn is based in Berlin

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has signed a 17bn euro ($25bn; £15bn) contract to build rail and underground lines in Qatar and Bahrain.

For Qatar's capital Doha, Deutsche Bahn will design and build a four line metro system with 98 stations.

A high speed train line to neighbouring Bahrain is also planned, with trains reaching speeds of 350km/h (220mph).

The contract will create a new company called the Qatar Railways Development Company.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani and German transport minister Peter Ramsauer were present when the deal was signed in Doha.

Qatar Railways Development Company will be 49% owned by Deutsche Bahn and 51% by Qatari Diar, Qatar's state-owned infrastructure and property development firm.

Deutsche Bahn said that it hoped to win more contracts in the Middle East following what it hoped would be a fruitful partnership with Qatar.