Economy extends Ferrosur Roca's precarious concession until 2027

The Ministry of Economy extended until September 10, 2027, the precarious continuity of the Concession Contract for the General Roca Line, managed by Ferrosur Roca Sociedad Anónima, to guarantee the provision of the freight railway service while the new contractual framework for linking with the private sector is defined. The decision was formalized in Resolution 1498/2026 (RESOL-2026-1498-APN-MEC), signed on September 9 by Minister Luis Andrés Caputo and published in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic on September 10, 2026.

The regulation, which comes into effect at 00:00 hours on September 11, 2026, extends the continuity period of the contract approved by decree 2681/1992 and its modifying acts, or until the new contract is finalized, whichever occurs first. The provision remains precarious in nature and may be revoked at any time, without creating a subjective right, an expectant right, or an invocable precedent in favor of the concessionaire.

Concession Background

The concession of the General Roca Line (excluding the Altamirano-Miramar corridor and its urban sections) was granted by decree 2681/1992 and adapted through the Agreement Act ratified by decree 2017/2008. Resolution 211/2021 of the then Ministry of Transport rejected the request for extension and ordered precarious continuity for 18 months, a term that was ultimately extended by resolution 52/2025 of the Secretariat of Transport until September 10, 2026.

Within this framework, resolution 1350/2026 of the Ministry of Economy authorized the call for Multi-Stage National and International Public Tender 504/2-0004-LPU26 for the concession of the tracks of the General Belgrano, General San Martín, and General Urquiza Lines, with an option to purchase rolling stock. That process serves as a model to guide the definition of the future framework applicable to the General Roca Line.

Emergency Framework and Scope

The measure is framed within the public emergency in railway matters declared by decree 525/2024 and extended by resolution 12/2026 of the Secretariat of Transport for 24 months. The declaration covers the administration, infrastructure maintenance, and operation of services in the National Railway Network, without altering the effects of concession contracts in execution or subrogating the obligations of the concessionaires.

During the extended term, Ferrosur Roca SA must provide the service and fulfill its obligations in accordance with the original contract, the Renegotiation Agreement Act, and the complementary regulations. The resolution is communicated to the Secretariat of Transport, the Secretariat of Infrastructure Coordination, the National Commission for Transport Regulation, and Ferrocarriles Argentinos Sociedad Anónima Unipersonal.

Impact for the corridor

The extension provides operational certainty to users and operators of the southern Buenos Aires freight corridor while the State advances in the structuring of a new contract with private investment, coordinated with the processes of the Belgrano, San Martín, and Urquiza lines. Precarious continuity, however, leaves open the possibility of early revocation without compensation, which maintains uncertainty regarding the future of the concessionaire until the new contracting is finalized.

Source: Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic, September 10, 2026, First section (official reference: RESOL-2026-1498-APN-MEC).