Mexico’s Rail Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) has awarded Alstom a contract worth around $1 billion to supply and maintain 47 DMUs for the government’s program to restore long-distance passenger services. The new fleet will be deployed on the Mexico City – Querétaro, Querétaro – Irapuato and Saltillo – Nuevo Laredo lines.
The largest passenger rolling stock order placed in Mexico in recent years will see Alstom’s local Ciudad Sahagún facility manufacture 14 commuter and 33 inter-city trains. The commuter trains will accommodate 700 passengers, with seating for 315. The intercity variant will have 265 seats, with passenger amenities including power sockets and USB charging ports at each seat. The new fleet will be equipped with ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System).
The contract also covers the provision of comprehensive support services, including a $33.9 million package to design and supervise the construction of train inspection facilities, as well as to design and equip two maintenance depots for $39.9 million each. Fleet maintenance will be undertaken over five years for $139.3 million, including consumables, supply of qualified personnel, technical documentation and tools. The contract runs until December 2032.
Tender Evaluation
During the tender, Alstom achieved the highest combined score of 83.78 points out of 100, despite scoring lower on technical evaluation than its main competitor. The company scored a maximum 35 out of 35 for its economic proposal, which proved decisive.
CAF finished second with 81.29 points overall and submitted a higher bid of $1.23 billion. The bid submitted by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive in joint venture with Mexico Railway Transportation Equipment was deemed non-compliant, scoring only 41.43 technical points.
Chinese interest in the Mexican market has also been demonstrated by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive successfully bidding for separate contract to supply 15 EMUs, awarded for $296 million in September. They will operate on the new line connecting Mexico City with Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and Pachuca.
The Alstom plant at Ciudad Sahagún has built 42 X’Trapolis DMUs and bi-mode trains under the $1.85 billion fleet and railway systems contract for the Mayan Train project, awarded by the Mexican government for $1.84 billion in May 2021. The contract includes fleet maintenance.
An in-depth feature on the Mexico’s passenger revival program will appear in the January issue of IRJ.
