Chinese firm not ruled out for Mexico City Metro Line 3 renovation; financing and technical capacity prioritized

Adrián Rubalcava, the director of the Mexico City Metro system, has indicated that the Chinese company CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive is not excluded from bidding on the renovation of Line 3, despite significant delays on a previous project.

“

What we are prioritizing in the matter of Line 3 is that it be a company with capital. The first thing we are trying to achieve is who can help us with the financing of the project's execution and that it be a co-investment where both the government and the company can participate equitably and the cost is lower.

The Metro chief emphasized that the selection process will be driven by technical, financial, and legal criteria, not personal decisions. Any company meeting the requirements will be eligible to compete for the contract. The primary goal for the Line 3 modernization is to find a partner with both railway experience and the ability to contribute financially through a co-investment model with the Mexico City government.

“

Legally yes. I could not restrict the possibility of them not even participating. Any company that has the capacity can participate.

Rubalcava stated that the financing program, experience in railway systems, and technical capabilities of each bidder will be evaluated. The Ministry of Administration and Finance will oversee the procedural review, while the Metro will require companies to prove their expertise in such infrastructure projects. Legally, there is no obstacle preventing CRRC from participating, according to Rubalcava.

“

We have very present the legal conditions in which we are currently with CRRC and also what were the stumbles we had in Line 1.

However, he acknowledged that the authorities will take into account CRRC's track record, including a 27-month delay in the modernization of Line 1 and an ongoing legal dispute with the capital's government. The Metro is also resuming conciliation talks with CRRC regarding Line 1, alongside an international arbitration process for alleged breaches and delays. Rubalcava assured that the Metro possesses legal evidence and expert reports to support its position in the arbitration, where both parties are presenting their cases.

“

We are going to seek that we do not have the situation where everything is concentrated only on the decision-making of a single company that tomorrow could impact us with the work being poorly done or us having bad trains.