CAF CRRC Shortlisted for Mexico City Metro Renovation

SCT selected the Spanish railway supplier CAF and the Chinese CRRC as the two tendering finalists to modernize Mexico City’s Metro Line 1.

The Mexico City government announced details related to an international public tender presented in mid-June to modernize the metro system. The objective is to secure the future of Line 1 for the next 20 years. For this project, the government has assigned a MX$39 billion (US$1.71 billion) budget, reports MBN.

The winner of the tender will be granted the operation of Line 1 starting in 2021 and until 2039. This will include maintenance for the 30 new trains that will begin operations in 2023. The government’s goal is to improve mobility of millions, as previously reported by MBN. The participating companies in the tender also included Alstom, Siemens, Mitsubishi and Bombardier. The final winner will be announced by the end of the month, reports Real Estate Market & Lifestyle. 

Both CAF and CRRC proposals include the purchasing 30 trains, building a new control center, rehabilitating infrastructure and maintaining the trains and line for seven years and the control system for 15 years, reported CLA.

CAF’s proposal includes the participation of CAF Investment Projects, Brownfield SPV IV and Mexican AEI Infrastructure and a budget of MX$46.6 billion (US$2.2 billion). Meanwhile, CRRC partnered with CRCC Zhuzhou Locomotive and is planning a total investment of MX$32.3 billion (US$1.5 billion).

Both tendering companies have participated in mobility projects in Mexico. Last year, CRRC won a project of 26 cars for the Light Rail system of Monterrey’s Metro Line 3. Meanwhile, CAF supplies pneumatic rolling units to Mexico City’s Metro Line 1 and, according to Real Estate Market & Lifestyle, this project could replace the current contracts between CAF and Mexico that conclude in 2027 and 2030.

During an MBN interview, Maria Fernanda Rivera Flores, General Director of Road Safety and Sustainable Urban Mobility Systems, said SEMOVI developed a Strategic Mobility Plan based on three guiding principles: integration, improvement and protection. Rivera mentioned that within the pillar of integration, the most important factor has been large investments in public transport, including better intermodal connections between Metro, Metrobús and even new projects like Cablebús.