Chalco-Santa Marta Train’s Four Contenders

Four companies presented technical and economic proposals for the advanced studies for the Chalco-Santa Marta Train, planned by the Transportation System and Cable Car of the State of Mexico (SITRAMYTEM). The studies and other projects that are necessary for the new train are expected to start in 1Q21.

The Chalco-Santa Marta Train will connect Chalco with the municipality of La Paz, facilitating access to the Metro Line A Santa Martha station. The project will connect with the Mexico City-Toluca Interurban Train, as both projects seek to connect the periphery of the city with the center areas.

Former President Enrique Peña Nieto aimed to develop the Chalco-Santa Marta Train. However, during his administration there was a lack of resources and investment. This year, President López Obrador announced that the government will resume the planning of the project and that its studies are now considered a priority, reported MXCity.

According to the List of the National Infrastructure Investment Agreement presented in November 2019, initially the project was going to have an investment of MX$5.8 billion (US$292 million) and its construction was planned for 2023-2024. The government has increased this amount and has allocated resources to the project from the national budget for 2021. The train will now have a total cost of MX$17.2 billion (US$859 million), from which MX$1.4 billion (US$69 million) have already been invested, reported El CEO.

The project will include two terminal stations and five intermediates across an extension of 15.5km. It will pass through the municipalities Chalco, Valle de Chalco, Ixtapaluca, La Paz, Iztapalapa, Chimalhuacan and Chicoloapan, areas in which infrastructure services were not usually provided to the population, according to a statement from Eugenio González, Director General of Altea Desarollos, on an MBN article.

The State of Mexico said the train will use electric self-propelled trains or Electric Multiple Units (EMUs). The government expects the operation of seven trains during rush hours and a total initial fleet of 27 cars. For its first year of operation in 2024, it is estimated the train will be used by 137,857 passengers per day, which will increase to 168,041 passengers in 2025.

From the four proposals presented to the SITRAMYTEM, the highest offer was presented by Cal y Mayor with MX$88.9 million (US$4.4 million), followed by IPMSA with MX$75.3 million (US$3.7 million), Senermex Ingenería y Sistemas with MX$63.2 million (US$3.1 million) and Ayesa México with MX$25.5 million (US$1.2 million), reported Real Estate Market &Lifestyle.

The government announced that the winner of the tender will not receive any advance payment. The studies are expected to start on Jan. 12, 2021 and to be completed in 180 days. In addition, as part of the contract, the winning company must help SITRAMYTEM, the State of Mexico and local governments to secure rights of way, reported El Economista.