MEXICO will publish preliminary terms Jan. 14 for a US$3.75 billion high-speed train contract that was abruptly canceled in November, Mexico’s Transportation Ministry said Sunday.

    The government revoked the single-bid deal shortly before disclosures that the Mexican president’s wife was acquiring a luxury home from a Mexican company called Grupo Higa that was part of the winning consortium led by China Railway Construction Corp. (CRCC).

    The terms of the tender, which will be open for 180 days, will be similar to the original one, the government said.

    A supervisor will oversee the process, the statement added, to ensure “the full transparency and legality of the process from the start of the bidding process.”

    Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto is under growing pressure to end corruption since a group of trainee teachers was apparently killed after being abducted by crooked police and handed over to a drug gang Sept. 26, prompting nationwide protests.

    The Mexican Government has said CRCC can take part in the new bidding process and the state-owned company will bid again, after expressing shock over Mexico’s reversal.

    The government has said it does not expect Grupo Higa to participate in the second tender.(SD-Agencies)