Argentina inks high-speed rail deal

30 April 2008

Alstom and partners Iecsa, Isolux Corsan and Emepa have been awarded a contract to construct a very high-speed rail link between Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba in Argentina.

Alstom’s share of the contract, which will become effective subject to the implementation of financing, is valued at around €1.1bn.

According to Alstom, the 710km journey between Buenos Aires and Córdoba currently takes 14 hours. The new line will link the Argentine cities in three hours and will be served by eight Alstom double deck very high-speed trains that are capable of carrying 509 passengers at speeds of up to 320kph.

The construction of the line will be divided into two with a line being built between Buenos Aires and Rosario, then Rosario and Córdoba. Once the basic design is validated, the construction works are scheduled to last four years.

The project involves the construction of infrastructure - including seven stations, electrification and signalling - plus the supply of rolling stock and maintenance.