KiwiRail has today taken the next step in the procurement of new electric trains for the Auckland network advising that its Request for Proposal documentation will be available to short-listed bidders from Monday.

Chief Executive Jim Quinn says the documentation will be made available to all of the bidders who met KiwiRail's qualifying criteria.

"In extending the number to receive the documentation from an initial shortlist of four we have reflected on the critical importance of securing the best possible whole of life outcome taking account of quality and cost," he said.

Those receiving the documentation are Hyundai Rotem Company; Hitachi Ltd; Bombardier Transportation Australia Pty Ltd; a consortium of Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. and Mitsubishi Corporation; UGL Rail Services Limited; CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co Ltd; CSR Nanjing Puzhen Ltd; a consortium of Sumitomo Corporation and Nippon Sharyo Ltd, LORIC Import & Export Corporation Limited and Downer EDI Rail Pty Ltd.