The Saltillo – Nuevo Laredo passenger line has received further contracts from Mexico’s federal government. The latest packages are valued at a total of Pesos 14.4bn ($US 744m). This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Saltillo - Nuevo Laredo line gets $US 744m awards
Photo: SCT. Saltillo – Nuevo Laredo line gets $US 744m awards

They form part of the broader Pesos 175.7bn plan. That plan covers a 396.3km passenger route from Saltillo to Nuevo Laredo, on the US border.

Systems contract for signalling and train control

As reported by International Railway Journal, Attrapi has selected a consortium for a Pesos 3.9bn systems contract. Attrapi is the government rail and integrated transport agency. The consortium includes Hitachi Rail GTS Spain and Hitachi Rail GTS México. Hitachi Rail GTS Austria is also part of the group. The package covers signalling, telecommunications and train control systems. It includes design, supply, installation and commissioning.

Also, the awarded work extends beyond the systems package. It covers civil engineering on two route sections. A Pesos 13bn package covers the 100km Unión San Javier – Arroyo El Sauz section. Gami Ingeniería e Instalaciones will work on that section. Construcciones Urales, Azvi and Recal Estructuras are also named for the package. The same companies, together with Constructora Moyeda, have also received a Pesos 10.4bn contract. That package covers the design and construction of a 9.2km section in the Monterrey area. The work is due to be completed within 33 months.

Stations and route scope

Separately, a Pesos 2.9bn contract has gone to another consortium. It is led by the Mexican subsidiary of Spanish civil engineering company Comsa. COMSA Corporación identifies the four stations as Derramadero, Saltillo, Ramos Arizpe and García. Regiomontana de Construcción y Servicios and Vise are also part of the consortium.

In addition, the Saltillo – Nuevo Laredo line will include 10 stations. It will serve Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. The route will also serve the industrial area of Monterrey. Under Mexico’s programme to revive long-distance passenger rail services, the route is expected to form the final section of a 200km/h corridor. That corridor is between Mexico City and Nuevo Laredo via Querétaro.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…UP-NS Action Center adds public letters to merger site