URUGUAY’s National Development Corporation (CND) has invited bids for a technical assistance contract to design a rail masterplan, overseen by Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP).
The masterplan aims to modernise and revitalise the national network, improving the efficiency and sustainability of both freight and passenger operations. The study is being funded by a non-reimbursable contribution from the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), which recently signed agreements with MTOP and CND.
The technical assistance contract is worth a maximum of $US 237,500. The preferred bidder will have 12 months to complete studies to develop a public-private roadmap for sector development, gathering data to support better connections with key ports such as Montevideo and Fray Bentos, and identifying opportunities to capture cross-border traffic.
Key tasks will include an initial diagnostic assessment of the condition of infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as operational capacity for freight and passenger services. A demand study will also be conducted to assess medium and long-term transport needs from 2035 to 2050, identifying expansion projects and cross-border connections, evaluating new technology and digitalisation strategies, and proposing financing models.
At the First National Forum on Multimodal Freight and Passenger Transport, minister of transport and public work, Lucía Etcheverry, and MTOP’s national rail director, Waverley Tejera, said that the masterplan represents a major opportunity to reactivate the rail sector, generate employment, and enhance logistics capacity.
Tejera noted that the main line between Montevideo and Paso de los Toros, recently upgraded for freight traffic under the privately-financed Central Railway project, is still operating at under 50% of full capacity. This highlights the potential for developing intermodal traffic, he added.
For detailed data on Latin American rail projects, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
