Argentina to re-tender Fepsa and Ferrosur Roca freight concessions

Argentina plans to put its two southern freight rail concessions, Ferroexpreso Pampeano (Fepsa) and Ferrosur Roca, out to new tenders rather than extend them again, the International Railway Journal reported on 19 October 2026, citing government sources quoted by the Bahía Blanca daily La Nueva. Both operators are now running on short-term extensions that end in 2027.

Fepsa, controlled by the Techint group, runs the Rosario–Bahía Blanca corridor. Its network covers 5,119 km, of which 2,339 km are in operation, with 54 locomotives and 2,162 wagons. Under Ministry of Economy Resolution 549/2026, published on 4 May, its concession continues until 30 April 2027 or until a new contract is signed. The same resolution ordered work on a new public-private scheme designed to attract as many bidders as possible.

Ferrosur Roca operates the broad-gauge Roca freight network across Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Río Negro and Neuquén provinces, with 39 locomotives and 2,051 wagons. Resolution 1498/2026, published on 10 September, extended its contract to 10 September 2027. Both extensions are precarious: the ministry can revoke them at any time without compensation, according to the official texts.

The two tenders will be run separately, each shaped around its network's condition and investment needs, with most of the money expected from private operators. The government intends to use the 50-year concession tender for the Belgrano, San Martín and Urquiza lines as the model for the future Ferrosur contract, iProfesional reported.

From an expert view, the most telling figure is Fepsa's: less than half of its network, about 46%, is in service. A new operator will be judged less on the trains it brings than on how many kilometres of track it can reopen and at what axle load and speed. Long contracts matter for exactly that reason. Rebuilding track, bridges and passing loops only pays back over decades, which is why the Belgrano model runs for 50 years rather than the 30-year terms of 1990s contracts such as Ferrosur's.

The demand case rests largely on Vaca Muerta. The ministry expects more traffic in fracking sand, equipment and supplies for the Neuquén shale basin, and is in talks with provinces about reviving the suspended rail link between Bahía Blanca and Añelo. Most of that sand travels by road from Entre Ríos today. The next step is the publication of the tender terms, for which no date has been set.

Sources: International Railway Journal (19/10/2026); Boletín Oficial, Resolution 549/2026 (04/05/2026); iProfesional (10/09/2026).

Photo: Pablo E. Saibene, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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