The Sevilla metro project is being exhibited and presented to the public until 12th February, 2002. The suggestions and comments will then be analysed and possible changes to the project may be introduced. The basic project should be approved between 15th May and 15th June, 2002. A document will be produced to serve as a base for the detailed design of Line 1 and the tendering documents. Line 1 will connect Los Prí­ncipes with the Pablo Olavide University and it is estimated its construction will take 36 months. 06/02. Public works concession notice, deadline 22nd November, 2002 for construction and operation of Line 1 of the Seville metro, length 18.9 km with 23 stations. Tender value €360 million. Subscribe to E-News Weekly to get a 4-page overview of the project. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=114837-2002, OJ S 145, or contact Junta de Andalucí­a, Seville, fax +34 955058047. E-mail copt@copt.junta-andalucia.es 32/02. Three consortia have submitted offers for the construction and operation contract of the first line. Ferrovial has bidded with Acciona, Detea, Sener and Vimac. FCC is together with Comsa, Inabensa, Isolux Wat and Martí­n Casillas. Dragados leads the third consortium including Sacyr, CAF, Tuzsa, GEA 21, which is a group of small and midsize Andalusian contractors, and Salvador Rus. The winner will invest €390 million to build and operate for 35 years this 19 km line. Read E-News Weekly # 32. 49/02. The Dragados-led consortium submitted the lowest bid, 17.7% above the €360 million tender value. The highest bid has been presented by the consortium headed by Ferrovial and Acciona, 50% above the tender budget. The European Investment Bank has granted a €250 million loan to the Andalusian government to finance the project and several Sevilla savings banks have agreed to grant loans totalling €200 million. The preferred bidder will be appointed in the first quarter of 2003.Line 1 will connect Aljarafe Sur to Dos Hermanas, crossing downtown Sevilla running from west to east. The 19 km alignment serves 23 stations and comprises 9 km of tunnel, some of which already exist since the early 1980s when the then planned heavy metro project was stopped, 6 km in viaduct and 4 km at grade. The project has been divided in three sections. Section 0 is 5.5 km-long and starts in Mairena del Aljarafe. It requires a 1 km tunnel shortly after the line head and an underground station in Plaza de Cavaleri. Another 320 m tunnel is planned in Cerro del Sagrado Corazí³n.Section 1 runs from the Blas Infante station to Pablo Olavide University in the city centre. There will be 13 stations, five of which already constructed. They are named Nervií³n, Gran Plaza, Mayo, Amate and La Plata. The route disappears underground shortly before the crossing with Avenue Ramí³n de Carranza to reach Parque de los Prí­ncipes where a TBM-driven twin tunnel will start running beneath Avenue Repíºblica Argentina, heading south to avoid crossing the Guadalquivir river and passing under the Plaza de Cuba underground car park. On the left bank of the river, the alignment carries on under Marí­a Cristina Gardens and Plaza de la Puerta de Jerez where there will be a 16.5 m-deep stop under San Fernando street. The TBM will exit in San Bernando station but the line continues below ground in cut-and-cover to connect with the existing tunnel in Avenue Eduardo Dato and Nervií³n station.Section 2 from Pablo Olavide University to Olivar de Quintos in Dos Hermanas is at grade.Estimated time frame for construction: 36 months. Read E-News Weekly # 32. 52/02.The consortium headed by Dragados and Sacyr including CAF, GEA 21, Tuzsa and Salvador Rus Lí³pez Construcciones has been awarded the construction and operation during 35 years of Line 1 which will run in Sevilla, Dos Hermanas, San Juan de Aznalfarache and Mairena del Aljarafe. This is the first metro concession contract in Spain and it will involve a €430 million investment. The new double-track infrastructure will have a total length of 18.9 km, of which 7.5 km will be underground. Time frame for construction is 36 months as of work start. Visit www.dragados.es and www.sacyr.com 13/03.Construction management of metro line 1 has been commissioned to Iberinsa and Gesa. Visit www.iberinsa.es 40/03.Open call for bids, deadline 25th March, 2004 for supervision and work control of metro line 1 in Seville. Tender budget: EUR501,000. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=024073-2004, OJ S 27, or contact Ferrocarriles Andaluces, Seville, fax +34 955007573. E-mail maryam.ferreras@ferrocarrilesandaluces.com 09/04.