COLOMBIA: National infrastructure agency ANI announced on May 16 that it had awarded the Ibines Férreo consortium a contract worth 153∙4bn pesos to upgrade two sections of the national network totalling 890∙9 km. Ibines Férreo comprises Iberovias (40%), Infraestructura Nacional (25%), Integral Compañía (25%) and Espina y Delfin Colombia (10%).

The contract covers the 521∙3 km between Chiriguaná and La Dorada, as well as its branches from Puerto Berrío to Cabañas (33∙1 km) and to Capulco (4∙0 km). The second package covers the 297∙9 km Facatativá — Bogotá — Belencito route and its 20∙4 km branch from La Caro to Zipaquirá.

Work to be undertaken over a period of 14 months will include formation repairs and track renewals. According to ANI, the contract also covers operational control, signalling and rolling stock maintenance.

ANI President Luis Fernando Andrade Moreno said that the organisation had ‘very clear objectives’ when tendering the contract, which had attracted four bids. ‘We want to resume freight operations in the two corridors’, he said, ‘improving competitiveness and guaranteeing the safe operation of passenger services.’