EFE Trenes de Chile has signed a USD 470 million contract for the execution of civil and surface railway works for the Santiago–Batuco Train project.
The contract has been awarded to the consortium Constructora Gran Andes SpA, comprising China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) and its subsidiaries CR22 and CRCEB.
The agreement covers the Mapocho–Batuco surface section, which represents the largest portion of the project. A total of six stations will be built, all designed to high standards of universal accessibility, urban integration, and safety.
Surface construction is scheduled to begin in December this year, with the arrival of new electric trains expected in 2027.
The consortium will be responsible for segregating the railway tracks — with two dedicated to passenger services and one to freight operations. In addition, they will construct seven rail bridges, 12 pedestrian crossings, and five vehicle crossings, all designed as grade-separated structures.
The Santiago–Batuco Train project also includes an underground section and involves a total investment estimated at USD 950 million, covering a 26 km line with eight stations.
The line will be operated by 10 new electric trains, currently under construction, and will offer connections to Metro lines 3, 5, and 7. It will link the northern area of the Santiago Metropolitan Region with the city centre.
A tender for the construction of the underground section is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2025, with partial service on the Batuco–Quilicura section planned to begin in 2028. The line is projected to be fully operational by 2030, with an estimated 35 million passengers per year.
The Santiago–Batuco Train is considered one of the most emblematic initiatives under the Trains for Chile programme. This new urban rail service will connect five municipalities in the northern part of the Metropolitan Region with central Santiago, significantly improving public transport accessibility and capacity.
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