Alstom, Transmashholding, and Vermerkiper Engineering, Argentina, which is likely to act as an intermediary for another manufacturer, were confirmed as bidders on December 26. A Bombardier-Siemens consortium, which was reportedly preparing an offer, decided not to submit a bid following a reduction in the contract size.
The initial order for 169 trains was scaled back following the suspension of the Buenos Aires RER project in June 2018. The Argentinean government took the action after reaching a bailout agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which required a reduction in the country’s budget deficit. The project was expected to be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP).
CRRC, Hyundai Rotem, Mitsubishi, KBR, Stadler, CAF, Materfer, Emepa and Benito Roggio, all of which participated in an information session hosted by the Ministry of Transport, declined to bid.
The new trains will initially serve the electrified San Martín and Roca lines and later the Miter line. Around 70km of the Roca line between Constitutución and La Plata, Claypole and Bosques, and Berazategui and Bosque, are electrified while a project to electrify the 76km San Martín commuter railway is underway. The work is funded by a $US 400m loan from the Inter-American Development Bank and $US 122m from the Argentinean government.
The contract requires 20% of content to come from local sources, with Alstom and TMH having the advantage of local production facilities. However, the contract would likely require an expansion ofAlstom’s facilities at La Plata and TMH’s at the Mechita workshop.
The new trains will feature air-conditioning, passenger Wi-Fi, LED screens for passenger information, internet-connected CCTV, automatic doors, air suspension and automatic braking.
Delivery is set to commence in late 2021.
