With an eye on 2022 opening, Quito metro prepares tender to hire operator

The Quito Metro company is preparing the launch of an international tender in 2022 to select an operator for the US$2bn subway in Ecuador's capital.

Metro manager Efraín Bastidas told BNamericas that the subway will start operating next year and the date for the tender is still under evaluation.

Bastidas estimated the tender is likely to be held sometime in the middle of the 11-month work period of Spanish company Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya.

The company began working three weeks ago on the structuring of the tender and it will also be responsible for the training of the metro's personnel.

To drum up interest in the tender, Quito Metro's management is now making contacts with the operators of the largest subways in Latin America, Europe and Asia, said Bastidas.

Work on the 22km line, the country's most important mass transport project, began in 2016. It faced several delays, some of which stemming from political issues.

The progress of the civil works is currently at 99.3% and has reached 91% in terms of equipment and facilities, while all the trains are ready.