Portuguese contractor Mota-Engil and Chinese rolling stock maker CRRC have signed a €1.3bn deal to build three metro lines in northeast Mexico.

The contract is for the construction of lines 4, 5 and 6 of the Monterrey subway system, with a total length of 36km. The lines will connect the city centre with Santa Catarina in the north and Mederos in the south.

The total cost of the project will depend on whether Line 5 is elevated or built at ground level.

Construction works are set to start on Sept. 30, 2022.

At present the “Metrorrey” system has three lines and 19 stations, mostly serving the northwest and east of the city. The system has an average daily ridership of almost half a million passengers.

Work is expected to last five years and according to Mota-Engil will help to consolidate the company’s position in the Mexican rail market.

Mota-Engil is 30% owned by China Communications, and the two are working on the first section of the Mayan train line in Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula.