Chinese contractor wins Chile’s largest railway construction project

A map showing the 24km-long Santiago-Batuco train project in Santiago, Chile (Image courtesy of CRCC)

The deal for the 24km-long construction of the Santiago-Batuco train project in Santiago, Chile, is thought to be worth in the region of US$500 million.

Located in the northern part of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, the railway will feature a passenger line for trains running at speeds of up to 160km/h, as well as a freight line designed for 65km/h.

A new passenger-dedicated link will link Quinta Normal Station and Batuco, while there will also be upgrades and repairs to existing freight lines, the construction of six new stations, and five new underpasses. Work will also include the elimination of all the existing at-grade level crossings and the construction of six railway bridges.

CRCC said that it would also install protective signage for rare and endangered plants in the six major wetland areas that that the railway passes through.

The contractor plans to install prefabricated piles to avoid large-scale excavation and groundwater depletion. It will also install noise barriers and temporary construction areas will be restored afterwards.

Upon completion, the Santiago-Batuco railway will link five cities in the region, serving 35 million passengers annually. Travel time along the line will be reduced from 1.5 hours to 24 minutes.