Chile transport minister delays Melitrén underground section to 2027, angering regional officials

Chile's Transport Minister Louis de Grange told regional authorities that the underground section of the Santiago-Melipilla Train (Melitrén) will be relicitated (re-tendered) in 2027, a delay from prior expectations. The announcement upset Governor Claudio Orrego and mayors of the eight affected communes, who had pressed for faster progress. The delay signals a setback for a key metropolitan infrastructure project, though the specific cause and new timeline details remain unclear.