(MENAFN- AFP) A Chinese-led consortium was the only group to enter a bid for a high-speed train project connecting Mexico City and the central city of Queretaro, the transport ministry said Thursday.
The China Railway Construction Corp. presented on Wednesday a $4.3 billion plan to build the trains and 210-kilometer (130-mile) railway, the ministry said in a statement.
The project is part of President Enrique Pena Nieto's decision to bring back passenger trains, which all but disappeared more than a decade ago, except for some tourist lines.
Pena Nieto has also sought to forge closer trade ties with China, hosting President Xi Jinping during a state visit last year.
The transport ministry said 16 companies decided not to make a proposal, including industry giants Mitsubishi of Japan, Alstom of France, Bombardier of Canada and Siemens of Germany.
The Chinese-led consortium, which includes four Mexican firms, was the only one to make a proposal by Wednesday's deadline.
The transport ministry said it will decide whether to accept the offer on November 3. The government expects construction to start in December and operations to begin in 2017.
The project aims to carry 23,000 passengers per day at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour.
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