A consortium of VINCI Construction and Colas wins a new railway contract in Chile
VINCI Construction through its subsidiary ETF, the lead company, and Colas Rail (Colas) were chosen by Dragados-Besalco, a construction consortium, to subcontract the construction of the second stretch of the Alameda–Melipilla railway line in Chile. Built on behalf on the public company EFE (Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado), which manages the national rail network, the project will connect the capital Santiago with the south-west of the country.
The contract, which is worth €100 million, split equally between ETF and Colas Rail, involves three years of works, including in particular dismantling the existing track, providing the materials (track, sleepers, ballast and overhead lines, etc.), as well as the construction and commissioning of a new suburban railway line.
The works cover the second stretch of the Alameda–Melipilla line, spanning 21.5 km, including three new tracks equipped with overhead lines, two of which will serve exclusively for passenger travel and one for freight. Work will begin at the end of August 2025.
The line will be used by 57 million passengers each year, cutting journey times by one hour.
“ETF has been operating in Chile since it built Santiago’s first metro line. Leveraging over 40 years’ experience working on Chile’s largest urban and national railway projects, ETF is currently helping to maintain all the metro lines in Santiago. This new suburban contract bolsters ETF’s commitment to develop low-carbon transport in Chile,” said Fabrice Guégan, CEO of ETF.
“After winning the call for tenders to maintain Santiago’s five metro lines at the beginning of the year, this new contract solidifies the Group’s roots and adds fresh momentum to the efforts of our teams in the Chilean rail market. Colas Rail has thereby positioned itself as a key player ahead of the major railway projects announced by local authorities in 2025,” explained Hervé Le Joliff, CEO of Colas Rail.
