SCT launches Guadalajara light rail tender

Mexico's transport and communications ministry, SCT, has launched a tender for first phase construction of line 3 of Guadalajara's light rail system.

"We are on the threshold of a new era for passenger rail transport," said SCT minister Gerardo Ruiz during a meeting with Jalisco state governor Aristóteles Sandoval to sign the tender documents.

Following the public signing in Jalisco state capital Guadalajara, the tender documents will be published in the official gazette on March 7.

The new 17.692bn pesos (US$1.35bn) line will run 21.5km between Zapopan, Guadalajara and Tlaquepaque, with 16 stations - both above and below ground - and two terminals, said SCT rail transport director Pablo Suárez during the meeting.

Some 233,000 passengers are expected to use the service each day.

The project will be divided into three tenders, with the first consisting of the construction of the first viaduct between Periférico-Zapopan and Federalismo, seven stations and urban landscaping.

The SCT plans to tender construction of a tunnel in April, the second viaduct in May and rolling stock in June.

This is the second passenger rail project to be put out to bidding this year, with the Mexico-Toluca passenger train tendered at the end of February.