ARGENTINA’s government is advancing plans to privatise commuter services in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area (AMBA), and has requested technical assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to support the next phase of the programme.
The approximately 900km, seven-line AMBA network carries more than 1 million passengers per day. Services are currently operated by Argentinean Trains using a mixed fleet of electric and diesel trains.
Under the proposed reform, the government intends to separate infrastructure, rolling stock and operations, with private operators awarded concessions to run services under state oversight.
The IDB has been asked to assist with design of the concession model, including contract structuring, regulatory frameworks and risk allocation. The multilateral lender may also support financing elements linked to the transition, although no overall value has been disclosed.
Officials say the aim is to develop a system that is “sustainable and attractive for private investment,” while maintaining service provision across the network.
Preparatory work is now underway, with the tendering process expected to begin in late 2026 following completion of technical studies and definition of concession packages.
The IDB-supported structuring phase is expected to determine the sequencing and scope of concessions, with implementation dependent on regulatory approvals and market interest from potential operators. Initial tenders are likely to be structured by line or group of lines and will reflect operational characteristics and demand profiles across the network.
