Latest Toluca-Mexico Train Bidding Deemed Null
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Latest Toluca-Mexico Train Bidding Deemed Null

Photo by:   Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash
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By Rodrigo Brugada | Journalist & Industry Analyst - Fri, 06/04/2021 - 19:36

SCT declared null the recent bidding for the construction of a station for the Mexico-Toluca train, quoting that none of the proposals met the project’s technical or financial conditions. The setback will further delay the construction of the train, which was meant to be finished in 2018.

The Toluca-Valle de México Intercity Passenger Train is a long-distance, medium-speed railroad project under construction that will connect the Toluca Valley Metropolitan Area with the Mexico Valley Metropolitan Area. The train will span almost 60 km and is expected to transport approximately 234,000 passengers daily. It is planned to have seven stations: two terminals and five in between. It will also pass through three boroughs in Mexico City and six municipalities of the State of Mexico in its way to International Airport Lic. Adolfo Lopez Mateos.

The project was initially announced on Dec. 1, 2012, by the then President Enrique Peña Nieto as part of several railroad infrastructure projects in the country, which became a reality in July 2014, with the formal start of construction. For its construction, the project was divided into three main sections

The first section, starting from the terminal in Zinacantepec and spanning 36 km, was won in a bidding in 2014 by La Peninsular Compañía Constructora in association with Constructora de Proyectos Viales de México. The second section consists of a 4.6 km tunnel and the bidding was won in 2014 by Ingenieros Civiles Asociados. The third section will connect the aforementioned tunnel to the Observatorio station of Mexico City’s subway network, spanning 20 km of rail. This last bidding was won in 2014 by Caabsa Constructora. Also, Spanish firm CAF was awarded a contract to provide trains, rail and communications infrastructure, ticketing facilities and associated services.

The project was intended to be finished by 2018, but it faced rising costs and complaints from local inhabitants, including significant environmental complaints. President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador included the project in the 2020-2024 National Infrastructure plan but problems hindering its advance have remained.

Earlier this year, Mexico City’s government decided to call a bidding to construct a station in the third section of the project (making for seven stations overall). The Vasco de Quiroga station will be located between Observatorio and Santa Fe and was added to the Mexico-Toluca train due to the current federal government’s project to expand the fourth section of Chapultepec, where the Health University will be located. It will also provide services for the local inhabitants of several local neighborhoods. 

The bidding for this station was released earlier in May and received proposals from 5 consortiums. However, the SCT recently deemed the bidding null, citing that none of the proposals met the required conditions. Four out of the five proposals were dismissed because they did not meet the financial requirements. The last one was rejected because it did not meet the expected technical aspects. While the original completion date was intended for 2018, the project is expected to be finished during this administration but it must tackle several problems first.

Photo by:   Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash

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