Hitachi Rail and Recal win contracts for the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo train for US$734mn in Mexico

The Mexican government awarded contracts worth 14.375 billion (bn) pesos (US$734 million (mn)) for railway systems and civil works for the passenger train Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo, moving forward with the development of one of the country’s main railway initiatives.

The contracts, awarded by the Agencia de Trenes y Transporte Público Integrado (ATTRAPI), correspond to the design and installation of signaling, telecommunications and railway control systems, as well as the construction of a 9.204km section in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, according to decisions published on the ComprasMx platform.

The first of the contracts was awarded to the consortium made up of Hitachi Rail GTS Spain, Hitachi Rail GTS México and Hitachi Rail GTS Austria GMBH for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of the railway signaling, telecommunications and control systems for the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo passenger train.

The winning proposal amounted to 3.937bn pesos (US$201mn), VAT included, after obtaining 92.20 points in the overall evaluation, surpassing the offer submitted by Siemens Mobility and its partners, which achieved 80.39 points.

According to the ruling, Siemens Mobility, Siemens Rail Automation and Sonda México submitted a compliant bid, although with a lower technical and economic score. The consortium made up of Construcciones Urales, Procesos Industriales, Enclavamientos Señalización Ferroviaria Enyse and Sinerbox Rail was rejected for failing to reach the minimum required technical score of 37.50 points.

ATTRAPI indicated that the contract corresponding to Hitachi Rail provides for work to begin on May 8, 2026 and an execution period of 1,546 calendar days.

Separately, the agency awarded to the consortium led by Recal Estructuras the construction and design of 9,204km of segment 15 “A2” of the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo passenger train, corresponding to the Monterrey metropolitan area.

The winning group, also made up of Constructora Moyeda, Construcciones Urales, AZVI and Gami Ingeniería e Instalaciones, obtained a contract worth 10.438bn pesos (US$533mn), including VAT. The consortium scored 95.58 points in the overall evaluation.

The ruling states that the bids led by ICA Constructora and Constructora de Proyectos Viales de México were also successful, although they obtained lower scores. The consortia led by Impulsora de Desarrollo Integral, Proveedora de Materiales del Norte and Tordec were rejected for failing to meet the technical requirements set out in the tender.

ATTRAPI reported that work on the segment awarded to Recal Estructuras would begin on May 1, 2026, with an execution period of 1,007 calendar days.

Likewise, the agency declared void the tender for the construction and design of auxiliary railway buildings, including the Zica Derramadero facilities, García workshops and depots, Las Torres inspection area, Salinas Victoria maintenance base, and Zica Nuevo Laredo, after determining that no proposal met the requested technical and economic requirements.

The Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo railway project involves the construction of a 396.3km rail line, with a non-electrified double track and speeds of up to 200km/h. One of the key sections is an 18.06km segment that will pass through urban, rural, and industrial areas in the Monterrey metropolitan area.

(The original version of this content was written in Spanish)