Mexico's infrastructure, communications and transportation ministry （SICT) will publish the final version of the international call for tenders for the acquisition of 47 passenger trains for the Mexico–Querétaro, Querétaro–Irapuato, and Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo routes before the end of October. The procedure will continue despite the fact that the Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) marked the process as "cancelled" on the Compras MX platform, according to the Mexican media outlet Milenio. "Following a technical review of the comments submitted by interested parties, the final publication of the international public bidding notice will be made during the month of October," the SICT stated. According to the original schedule, the call for proposals was published on September 18, the comment period was scheduled for September 29, the clarification meeting for October 13, the submission and opening of proposals for November 3, and the decision for November 19. Although the process appeared as canceled, ARTF published the technical annexes, contract model and specifications for the 47 diesel-electric (DMU) trains equipped with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). The SICT clarified that the competition has concluded its "draft call" phase, in accordance with the Law on Public Sector Procurement, Leasing, and Services, and that the process will continue with the final publication of the international bidding process in the coming days. This tender is part of the passenger train revival plan launched by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which aims to build around 3,000km of new track during the current administration and improve connectivity between communities to strengthen mobility and trade. Milenio recalled that the Chinese company CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive, in association with Mexico Railway Transportation Equipment, won the tender to build the AIFA–Pachuca corridor trains, including the maintenance and equipment of workshops, with a contract worth more than 5.8 billion (bn) pesos (US$319 million). The relaunching of the bidding process comes just weeks after President Claudia Sheinbaum declared that progress had already been made in acquiring the right-of-way for the Mexico–Querétaro railway, supervised by military engineers, and that the project had the necessary resources for its development. With the SICT's decision, key rail corridors are expected to maintain their construction and operational schedules in the medium term. Querétaro–Irapuato The ARTF reported that Mota Engil and several of its subsidiaries were selected to build and design 70.7 kilometers of the Querétaro–Irapuato passenger train section II, with a budget proposal of 20.2bn pesos. The agency noted that this proposal was chosen because it met the established legal, technical, and economic requirements. Work is scheduled to begin on October 16, with a completion period of 866 calendar days. Eight economic proposals were submitted in this tender, including those from companies linked to Carlos Slim and Chinese companies. The conglomerate Comsa Infraestructura and Regiomontana de Construcción y Servicios submitted a bid of 20.7bn pesos, while Gami Ingeniería, Recal Estructuras, Azvi, and Construcciones Urales submitted 21.4bn pesos. Asian firm Power China International Group and its subsidiaries bid 18.4bn pesos, with the highest bid going to Constructora de Proyectos Viales, Caabsa Constructora, and OHL, at 32.3bn pesos. Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo On the other hand, the consortium led by Gami Engineering and Installations and Construcciones Urales won the tender for the construction and design of 136.48 kilometers of the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo railway section (segments 18, 19, and 20, Arroyo El Sauz–Nuevo Laredo), with a bid of 12.6bn pesos. The ARTF indicated that the proposal was selected for meeting the required technical, legal, and economic criteria. Gami Ingeniería has experience in the railway sector, having participated in bidding processes and construction projects for the Maya Train. (The original version of this content was written in Spanish)
