Backing was given last month for a US$3bn rail tunnel project through the Andes between Argentina and Chile by the governments of both countries, and a feasibility study has been launched for private venture procurement.
The twin tunnel project is estimated to take eight to 10 years to construct. It is planned to run through a 23km stretch of the Cristo Redentor corridor in the mountains, between Puente del Inca, in Argentina, and Juncal, in Chile.
Both countries are looking for the rail scheme to be undertaken as a private venture. The procurement route would require private sponsorship of construction, operation and commissioning.
Earlier this year a new proposal was submitted to the governments for the private venture approach following their rejections of technical and economic concepts last year.
The new proposal for the tunnel, plus 200km of other rail rehabilitation and construction, came from a JV of two Argentinian industrial groups, Corporacion America and Tecnicagua.
In a statement, the Argentine Government said the scheme would help overcome the problems that freight transport faces from severe weather in the mountains with roads closed up to 60 days per year. By 2020 it will be carrying 20M tonne of rail freight between the stations of Los Andes, in Chile, and General Las Heras, in Argentina.
