Overview
- ARTF received bids from Alstom, CRRC and CAF to supply 47 trains for the México–Querétaro, Querétaro–Irapuato and Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo corridors, with Alstom lowest at 20,171.1 million pesos, CRRC at 23,911.8 million and CAF at 24,366.1 million.
- The international procurement includes purchase, commissioning, five years of maintenance and workshop equipment, divided into 33 long‑distance and 14 short‑distance sets equipped with ERTMS.
- Specifications call for up to roughly 200 km/h operation, capacity for about 700 passengers with at least 315 seats, the ability to couple two units and a 65% domestic content requirement.
- ARTF scheduled the public award for December 11 with a single possible deferral of up to 20 calendar days, using an evaluation split of 65% technical and 35% economic.
- Project delivery advanced on the ground: Querétaro–Irapuato is already in work with basic engineering complete in Guanajuato, detailed engineering at 65% in Querétaro–Apaseo and 6% in Apaseo–Irapuato, embankment works and a Celaya tunnel underway, while the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo tramo A tender is set for December 5 with tramo B in process, environmental clearance obtained and right‑of‑way actions ongoing.