Nuevo Leon Rejects Bids for Monterrey Interurban Train

The government of Nuevo Leon announced it rejected all the bids from a tender for consultancy services ahead of the Monterrey Interurban Train’s construction. The train is a promising infrastructure project that aims to connect important municipalities in Monterrey’s Metropolitan area.

According to Monterrey’s Ministry of Mobility and Urban Planning, the bids presented by the three interested consortiums did not meet the requirements for approval.

The ministry reported that three consortiums applied. The first was formed by SENERMEX Ingeniería y Sistemas and Egismex with a proposal worth MX$38.4 million (US$2.1 million), which the ministry highlighted as the cheapest proposal. Other participants were Felipe Ochoa y Asociados and AUDINGMEX with a proposal worth MX$56.7 million (US$3.1 million) and the group formed by EMARTRONS, GEPIC Consultores, Consultores Sociales Helix, Soluciones en Infraestructura Sustentable and Consorcio Iuyet with the costliest proposal worth MX$78.3 million (US$4.3 million). 

“To be considered feasible, technical proposals must obtain a minimum of 75% (equivalent to 52.5) of the maximum 70 points or percentage units that can be obtained for their technical evaluation. Therefore, proposals not complying with the minimum points indicated will be rejected,” reads the decision document.

The consortium headed by EMARTRONS presented the highest-rated proposal with 42.93 points, followed by SENERMEX Ingeniergía’s proposal with 32.79 points and Felipe Ochoa y Asociados’ bid with 27.12 points. 

On May 25, 2022, the Governor of Nuevo Leon, Samuel García, presented the Distrito La Virgen mobility project, which included the construction of the Monterrey Interurban Train. At that time, García said the project would require an investment of MX$12 billion (US$667 million), of which the federal and state governments would contribute MX$3 billion (US$166.8 million) each and the private sector would contribute the remaining MX$6 billion (US$333.6 million). 

Nuevo Leon government said the project will consist of a 62km-railroad featuring 27 stations, three of which connect with Metrorrey and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. The line also promises to provide both passenger and freight transportation for Apodaca, San Nicolas de los Garza, Monterrey, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Santa Catarina and Garcia municipalities. According to the government, the train will have the capacity to transport over 250,000 passengers per day once it is ready in 2024.