New Atocha transit station contract marks a major milestone for Spanish rail infrastructure
The process to build a new Atocha transit hub advances into a decisive phase as ACS and Ferrovial seal a landmark public works agreement. The project is divided between two leading groups: one led by Dragados, a Ferrovial subsidiary, in partnership with Grupo San José, Tecsa, and Grupo Puentes, and the other managed by a consortium controlled by the Del Pino family. The bidding scene echoes a closely watched contest from earlier this year in which FCC and Comsa vied to secure the Rodalies R2 line through Montcada i Reixac in Barcelona, a high-volume tender that drew significant attention in 2023.
Should the tender proceed as planned, Adif, which oversees Spain’s rail infrastructure, would move forward on what stands as one of the largest public works deals currently open under the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. The interim joint venture led by ACS includes San José, Tecsa, and Puentes with stake shares of 30 percent, 15 percent, and 10 percent respectively. Business sources cited by El Periódico de España y Activos confirm these participation figures.
In this bidding round, the balance shifted compared with Montcada i Reixac. The field has seen ACS Ferrovial, FCC and Comsa take the lead, edging out OHLA, Sacyr, Acciona and Rubau, as well as a consortium formed by Vías y Construcciones, Copisa, Azvi and Ingeniería y Servicios. In the new Atocha contract, Ferrovial secured the joint venture with FCC and Comsa, alongside Dragados, Sacyr, Acciona and OHLA. The ACS unit declined to comment when reached for remarks.
Best technical and strongest economic offer
The consortium led by ACS delivered the strongest technical score, achieving 48.83 points, about four points ahead of the nearest rivals, according to reports. On the economic side, Dragados was not the top bid: Ferrovial, FCC and Comsa submitted a combined offer of 365.55 million euros, while the ACS-backed team comprised San José, Tecsa and Puentes with a bid of 373.2 million euros. The bids from Sacyr, Acciona and OHLA stood at 387.06 million.
Even if the bid that topped the price sheet did not lead, the solid technical performance by ACS and its partners is expected to secure victory. Dragados submitted a price that is significantly lower than prior estimates, with an investment figure of 404.7 million euros including taxes, compared with an allocated budget of 514.3 million. The winning bid is roughly 21 percent below the base budget.
Overview of the new Atocha transit station
The new transit node will be constructed underground directly beneath the current station. A crucial requirement is to provide an express connection for high‑speed trains to stop at both Atocha and Chamartín stations. The project timeline stretches to about 83 months, meaning completion will not occur before 2030, while normal high‑speed rail operations continue during construction. The railway administrator emphasizes that the link is essential to connect the northern and southern regions of the Iberian Peninsula through the high‑speed network.
Adif plans to fund the project through the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. The design and build phase will be an architectural and engineering challenge, featuring four new tracks, two platforms, and a central opening that will admit natural light through a skylight. The station will integrate with the existing services to avoid redundancy and maintain seamless passenger flow.