📋 Tender Overview
Consolidation of Rail Transport: “Railways are the right path,” stated Minister Etcheverry 11/18/2025 Share The port of Montevideo received the first three locomotives of a total of seven, which will make up the RAS Group fleet. This marks a decisive step in the modernization of freight transport and in the consolidation of rail transport within the national logistics system, assured the Minister of Transport and Public Works (MTOP), Lucía Etcheverry. 1 / 4 Download image (image/jpeg): PreviousNext The first part of the fleet, which will begin operating in the first four months of 2026 connecting Montevideo and Rivera, arrived in Uruguay on Monday the 17th and was received, in addition to the head of the MTOP, by the Director of Rail Transport, Waverley Tejera, authorities from the National Ports Administration (ANP), and the RAS Group. The minister indicated that this process “reaffirms that rail is the right path,” and emphasized that the incorporation of new operators, the consolidation of rail transport, and strategic investments demonstrate that rail is key to the country's competitiveness because it enhances mobility and multimodality on a historic infrastructure built for growth. Regarding passenger transport, she announced that studies are underway on lines in the metropolitan area to assess track conditions, usage potential, and the necessary investment in infrastructure and rolling stock. She also added that improving the Rivera-Tacuarembó service is among the investment priorities for this period. For his part, Tejera highlighted that the arrival of these units “marks a significant milestone for the country” due to its impact on the economy, as it showcases productive ventures in different regions, strengthens the role of the Port of Montevideo as a logistics hub, and benefits both the public and private sectors. “We are working to develop a rail system in which both sectors participate, with the State contributing infrastructure, assets, and operations through AFE,” he stated. New Fleet Arrives from Brazil: The units arriving in the capital are brand-new, 2,500-horsepower locomotives, weighing 102 tons each, capable of pulling between 20 and 25 railcars with up to 40 containers each. They will be used to create more efficient logistics routes and greater competitiveness for the country's agro-industrial and agro-export corridors. The new locomotives will operate on the Central Railway lines, connecting the port of Montevideo with the company's industrial park, located 30 kilometers from the port terminal, and with the border with Brazil at Rivera-Santana do Livramento.
