Five Consortia Bid for Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo Rail Project

The Rail Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) reports that it received proposals to expand passenger rail services, as five consortia submitted economic bids for the design and construction of 136.48km of the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo passenger train, covering segments 18, 19, and 20 from Arroyo El Sauz to Nuevo Laredo.

The tender was launched by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT) through the Rail Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF). The contract will be awarded on Oct. 3, 2025, via the federal government’s Compras MX platform.

Bidders and Proposals

At the bid-opening session on Sept. 18, ARTF read out the financial proposals received (excluding VAT):

• Group I: COMSA Infraestructuras, Regiomontana de Construcción y Servicios, COMSA, and VISE — MX$15.41 billion (US$838.4 million)

• Group II: Constructora de Proyectos Viales de México, CAABSA Constructora, and Obrascon Huarte Lain — MX$15.96 billion (US$868.1 million)

• Group III: Gami Ingeniería e Instalaciones, Construcciones Urales, Recal Estructuras, and AZVI — MX$10.92 billion (US$594 million)

• Group IV: ICA Constructora, ICA Constructora de Infraestructura, Construcciones y Trituraciones, Constructora El Cajón, Compañía Hidroeléctrica La Yesca, Desarrolladora de Infraestructura Puerto Escondido, Controladora de Operaciones de Infraestructura, ICA Edificio Satélite, and Entia de México — MX$14.76 billion (US$802.7 million)

• Group V Operadora CICSA (a subsidiary of Grupo Carso, owned by Carlos Slim) and FCC Construcción — MX$15.44 billion (US$839.6 million)

All bids must comply with legal, technical, and economic requirements, including a minimum of 30% local labor participation. The project’s allocated 2025 budget is MX$1.33 billion (US$72.3 million), with future commitments subject to annual federal budget availability.

The winning bidder will begin work on Oct. 13, 2025, with a construction and design period of 960 calendar days.

These segments form part of the larger 396.34km Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo stretch of the Tren del Norte, a federal project that will ultimately link Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo via 1,200km of passenger rail.

Broader Context

Last week, CICSA and FCC announced that they had already secured a separate contract for another portion of the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo line, covering 111km between Saltillo and Santa Catarina, valued at MX$31.84 billion (US$1.73 billion). Construction on that section is set to begin Sept. 30, 2025, MBN reports.

The project is part of the López Obrador administration’s strategy to revive passenger rail, improve northern connectivity, and strengthen economic and tourism ties across Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. Once operational, authorities project the line will carry 7 million passengers annually, connecting key industrial and metropolitan hubs including Saltillo, Monterrey, and Nuevo Laredo.

Investment Outlook

According to Proyectos México, the full Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo route will require US$7.46 billion in investment, with planned stations in Derramadero, Saltillo, Ramos Arizpe, Garcia, Santa Catarina, Monterrey, Bustamante, Anahuac, and Nuevo Laredo.