The Chilean state railway EFE has announced investments of around €2.8 billion (US$3 billion) in the railway infrastructure of the Biobío region as part of the Más Movilidad initiative. The investments include the expansion of suburban rail line 2 from Coronel to Lota in the Biotren network, with tenders for the planning of the construction and the environmental studies to be published in the first half of 2024 (H1/2024). Due to increased demand, capacity on the two suburban rail lines 1 and 2 of the Biotren network will be increased by 50% by the beginning of 2026 at the latest and doubled by 2027. To this end, ten new passenger trains will be procured and platforms and stations on line 2 from Concepción to Coronel will be upgraded. In addition, a new line is being built between Chillán and Concepción to improve passenger rail transport connections between the capital Santiago de Chile, Chillán, and Concepción, and to reroute rail freight transport, thereby relieving the pressure on the Biotren lines currently in use.
