Suggestions for the construction of the Querétaro-Irapuato and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo train lines; costs estimated between 1,000 and 16,000 million ECUs
Announcement Looming for Passenger Train Tender Decisions in Mexico
The race to construct two major passenger train projects in Mexico is nearing its conclusion, with the decisions for the Querétaro-Irapuato and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo tenders expected within the next two weeks.
In the Querétaro-Irapuato project, 11 proposals have been submitted, with the amounts ranging from 1,831 million pesos to 16,915.9 million pesos. Notable contenders include ASCH Infraestructura y Servicios, who proposed 5,774.5 million pesos, and Mota-Engil México, Mota-Engil Aeropuertos del Norte, and Mota-Engil Engenharia e Construcao Africa, who submitted a bid of 6,579.4 million pesos.
Meanwhile, the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo route has seen 40 companies express interest, with 3 proposals announced by the Agency for the Regulation of Railway Transport (ARTF). The results for this tender are also scheduled for August 18, 2025.
For both projects, the initial sections' decisions are expected to be made in mid-August 2025. Subsequent sections for the Querétaro-Irapuato project will have their bids announced later, while some subsequent sections for the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo route have tender dates announced for September and October 2025.
The winning bids and the consortia for these projects are yet to be announced publicly. However, it is anticipated that construction contracts will be awarded soon after the announcements, with work expected to begin immediately thereafter. The leading companies involved in these tenders include ICA, Comsa, and Gami, among others.
These projects form part of Mexico's National Railway Plan, a broader initiative aimed at reviving the passenger rail sector. The decisions on these tenders are eagerly awaited, with announcements expected imminently but no confirmed results published yet.
Stay tuned for updates as we await the announcements scheduled for August 18, 2025. The date of signing the contract with the winning bidder, if applicable, is set for August 22, 2025.
- The financing for the upcoming passenger train projects in Mexico, such as the Querétaro-Irapuato and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo routes, remains undetermined as the industry waits for the tender decisions.
- Regardless of which companies win the tenders, these projects, including their transportation and construction aspects, are all part of the broader finance landscape of Mexico's National Railway Plan.
