The line is expected to serve 57 million passengers annually upon completion. Credit: VINCI Construction.

VINCI Construction’s subsidiary ETF and Colas Rail, both specialising in railway infrastructure, have secured a subcontract valued at €100m ($117.8m), to build the second stretch of the Alameda-Melipilla railway line in Chile.

The two companies have been chosen by the Dragados-Besalco consortium to undertake the infrastructure project.

The Alameda-Melipilla railway line, managed by the state-owned company Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado, aims to enhance connectivity between Santiago and the south-west of the country.

The contract, equally divided between ETF and Colas Rail, spans three years and encompasses comprehensive works.

These include dismantling the current track and supplying replacement materials such as track, sleepers, ballast, and overhead lines, culminating in the construction and commissioning of a new suburban railway.

Covering 21.5km, the second stretch of the Alameda-Melipilla line will feature three new tracks with overhead lines, dedicated to both passenger and freight services.

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Two tracks will be exclusively for passenger travel while one will cater to freight.

The commencement of works is scheduled for the end of next month.

Upon completion, the line is expected to serve 57 million passengers annually, reducing travel time by an hour.

ETF CEO Fabrice Guégan said: “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.”

Colas Rail CEO Hervé Le Joliff added: “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.”

Last month, VINCI Construction completed the acquisition of Peters Bros Construction, a Canadian company specialising in roadwork services and asphalt products.