Construction of the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo and Querétaro-Irapuato railways will be carried out in strategic blocks: ARTF.
The Rail Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) reports that the construction of the Querétaro-Irapuato and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo passenger train routes, which will begin in July, will be carried out through strategic work “fronts.”
The Querétaro-Irapuato stretch, 107.8 kilometers (km), will be divided into four segments for construction: Apaseo El Grande/Querétaro, 30.7 km, where work will begin; Irapuato station, 1.8 km; Irapuato/Cortázar, 46.9 km; and Cortázar/Apaseo El Grande, 28.4 km.
Upon launch, the project is expected to demand 4 million trips annually, a figure that will be specified once the studies are completed.
The 393.9-km Saltillo-Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo route will have six construction fronts: Unión San Javier-Arroyo El Sauz, where construction will begin; Derramadero-Ramos Arizpe, which is 54.1 km; Ramos Arizpe-Santa Catarina, which is 63.25 km; Monterrey-Joyas Anáhuac, which is 19.4 km; Joyas Anáhuac-Unión San Javier, which is 23.8 km; and Arroyo El Sauz-Nuevo Laredo, which is 133.5 km.
According to preliminary figures, once operational, this section will have a demand for 5.5 million trips annually, which will be supported by the studies received by the ARTF.
Lajous Loaeza, head of the ARTF, explained that the calls for bids for both sections, Querétaro-Irapuato and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo, have already been published. These calls were announced through the SICT, headed by Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, and the ARTF.
“The goal is for construction companies to submit their proposals to win construction contracts for these sections,” he emphasized.
Both passenger rail routes include a final Executive Project, which will be delivered to the winning train bidders during the construction phase.
This section also includes topographic surveys, geotechnical studies, and specific and final technical specifications for materials, construction processes, and railway systems.
Next comes the Construction Phase, which includes environmental mitigation, preliminary, drainage, and auxiliary works, earthworks, as well as special structures such as viaducts and bridges, and the superstructure of the road.
Once construction of the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo and Querétaro-Irapuato routes is complete, the Testing and Commissioning Phase will begin. This phase will include static and dynamic testing of the road, structural verification and load testing, review of drainage and geotechnical systems, as well as final adjustments and system integration; and, finally, documentation and final delivery.
According to the schedule, work will begin in the fourth week of July, following the ruling.
It is worth noting that these two routes are part of a first phase that will begin this year, along with the Mexico City-AIFA-Pachuca and Mexico City-Querétaro routes, which began in March and April, respectively; together they total 774 km.
Press release from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation.
