A consortium led by companies tied to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has been awarded a major infrastructure contract to build key sections of a high-priority passenger railway connecting Saltillo and Nuevo Laredo in northern Mexico.
The Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) confirmed that Operadora CICSA and FCC Construcción—both affiliated with Slim’s Grupo Carso—secured the contract for Segments 13 and 14 of the route. The specific section spans approximately 111 kilometers between Saltillo, Coahuila, and Santa Catarina, Nuevo León.
The winning bid entails an investment exceeding 31 billion Mexican pesos. The Slim-led group outperformed several prominent international and domestic infrastructure players in the bidding process, including ICA, Gami Ingeniería, AZVI, OHL, and Comsa. According to the ARTF, Slim’s consortium earned the highest evaluation scores under strict federal oversight and transparency mechanisms.
Modernizing Mexico’s Rail Network
The construction timeline is set for 960 business days, aligning with the federal government’s broader initiative to revitalize passenger rail service across strategic economic corridors. Once completed, the route will offer an efficient public transit alternative connecting vital industrial hubs in northeastern Mexico near the U.S. border.
Work on the overall rail corridor is already making significant progress:
- 23 active work fronts are currently operational across more than 180 kilometers of the route.
- Over 4,000 tons of steel rails have been delivered to the primary assembly yards in Saltillo.
- Initial construction on adjoining sections began in late 2025, with target completions projected through 2027.
The project further solidifies Grupo Carso’s dominant role in major national infrastructure, extending Slim’s industrial reach alongside his established holdings in telecommunications, mining, and commercial banking.
Source: Cronista
