ADI /Ayesa JV wins the supervision contract for one of Chile’s largest infrastructure projects, the Alameda–Melipilla railway

With an estimated investment of $1.887 billion, it is the largest tender ever awarded by EFE, the Chilean state-owned railway company.

A total of 22 high-standard, fully electric trains, with a maximum speed of 140 km/h, will run along the 61-kilometer route.

The Chilean state-owned railway company (EFE) has awarded the supervision contract for the Melipilla–Malloco rail section to the ADI Consortium, in which Ayesa Engineering is a key partner. The contract is valued at €18.6 million and covers one of the three segments of the Alameda–Melipilla commuter rail line—an eagerly awaited infrastructure project that has now been officially approved. With a projected investment of $1.887 billion, it stands as the largest public tender in EFE’s history.

This transformative railway initiative is expected to transform daily life by drastically reducing travel times and improving overall mobility. The new commuter line promises daily travel time savings of over two hours along its 61-kilometer route connecting Greater Santiago with the city of Melipilla. Once operational, the line is expected to serve over 57 million passengers annually, offering a faster and safer transportation system.

Ayesa, under the ADI Consortium—alongside DRS (40%) and ILF (20%)—will lead the supervision of the 35.9-kilometer Melipilla–Malloco section.  This stretch passes through the municipalities of Melipilla, El Monte, Talagante, and Peñaflor, and includes both passenger and freight tracks. The project will include the construction of four stations, along with maintenance workshops, train depots, and the El Sotillo and Los Pajaritos road crossings in Peñaflor.

The supervision contract covers project management and document control, technical office support, on-site inspection, quality and performance monitoring, and overall project coordination. The use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology will support effective oversight and control throughout the project.

A total of 22 high-standard, fully electric trains with a capacity of 807 passengers will operate along the full route, reaching speeds of up to 140 km/h. The project includes the construction of 11 stations, five tracks (three for passengers and two for freight), and connections to Santiago Metro lines 1 and 6.

Mariluz Ramírez, Director of the LATAM Transport Division at Ayesa, said: “We’re proud to be part of this major railway project, which plays a major role in improving connectivity in the western part of the Santiago Metropolitan Region. With this contract, we continue to support the development of Chile’s rail and metro networks—building on our previous work inspecting the extension of Metro Line 3, and our current role overseeing civil works for sections 2, 3, and 4 of Metro Line 7 in Santiago”.

Ayesa has a strong track record in the Latin American railway sector, providing expertise in planning, design, project management, and supervision. Key projects include the Regiotram del Occidente and Bogotá Metro in Colombia; Lines 4 and 6 in Monterrey; sections 1, 2, 5N, 6, and 7, as well as the depots and maintenance facilities for the Maya Train in Mexico; Lines 1 and 2 of the Panama Metro; Line 1 of the Quito Metro; Lines 1, 2, and 4 of the Lima Metro; and the extension of Line 1 of the Santo Domingo Metro. Ayesa is ranked among the top 25 consultants globally for transportation, underscoring its expertise and worldwide presence in this critical sector. The company has successfully delivered over 55 major rail and metro projects including high-speed systems across the globe.