Section two will run from Escárcega to Calkiní and the winning contractor will be announced on April 30, with construction beginning on May 12 provided the health authorties deem it safe to do so in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The winning company will be responsible for organising the project based on the basic engineering provided by Fonatur, the construction of platforms and rail lines, the supply of materials, roads and drainage systems, among other works,” Fonatur says.

The 15 bidders comprise:

  • a consortium of 11 Mexican companies led by Grupo Vázquez del Sur ($US 640m)
  • a consortium of 11 Mexican companies led by Citcocomex Group ($US 656m)
  • Spanish civil engineer Copasa with four Mexican companies ($US 728m)
  • FCC Construcción and Operadora Cicsa, Spain ($US 740m) 
  • China Railway Construction Corporation (CRRC) and Constructora Y Edificadora Gia, Mexico ($US 740m)
  • a team led by the Mexican arm of Portugal’s Mota Engil and China Communications Construction Company, with three Mexican partners ($US 760m)
  • PowerChina with MM-Mex and GH Maquinaria, Mexico ($US 760m)
  • Grupo Azvi, Spain, and Grupo Indi infrastructure company subsidiary Gami Ingeniería, Mexico ($US 760m)
  • China Railway International with Consorcio De Ingenieros Constructores y Consultores and Grupo Industrial Rubio, Mexico, ($US 760m)
  • Nexumrail of Durango and Emartrons of Guadalajara ($US 780m)
  • China Gezhouba with 10 Mexican construction and engineering companies ($US 810m)
  • a consortium including Dragados, Spain, with La Peninsular Compañía Constructora and Camargo Correa Infra Construcoes, Maxico ($US 815m)
  • Empresas ICA and Impulsora de Desarrollo Integral, Mexico ($US 830m)
  • a consortium made up of subsidiaries of Sacyr Construcción, Spain, with three Mexican partners: Técnicos Especializados De Chiapas, Constructora Gordillo and Impulsora de Soluciones en Infraestructur ($US 850m), and
  • CAABSA Constructora, Mexico, with four other Mexican partners ($US 872m).

Tenders for section one, which will run from Palenque to Escárcega, and section two were issued on February 12. Section three will run from Calkini to Izamal, while section four will run from Izamal to Tulum and section five will run from Tulum to Cancun. The tender for the third section is still open.

Fonatur says the project will create around 80,715 jobs, helping to mitigate the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The project is expected to be completed 2022.

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