The proposal, made this Tuesday, validates the documentation submitted by the UTE after initial errors related to insurance validity and economic solvency were rectified. This step is vital for the Jaén tram, which has been inactive since its testing phase in 2011, to finally enter service.

Ruiz-Barraqueiro's offer amounts to 10.9 million euros (excluding VAT), within a contract tendered in August 2025 for 17.8 million euros (including VAT). If no new appeals are filed, the contract could be signed this week, according to the Minister of Public Works, Rocío Díaz. This milestone would allow the start of 'white' tests, a mandatory phase before commercial operation.

The award process has been complex and marked by various incidents. Initially, the proposal went to a UTE with Alsa's participation, which was excluded for not submitting all documentation on time. Subsequently, the second-best offer, from Grupo Avanza, was also rejected for failing to provide the equality plan, a decision that was appealed and ultimately dismissed by the Administrative Court of Contractual Appeals of the Junta de Andalucía.

Following these setbacks, the procedure was reactivated with the third-best offer, from Grupo Ruiz-Barraqueiro, which has now been proposed as the successful bidder after meeting all required conditions. The operations contract covers service exploitation (driving, customer service, ticketing, cleaning, and security), maintenance coordination, and user assistance, as well as fraud control.

The Jaén tram, with a route of 4.78 kilometers and ten stops, has traffic light priority at all its crossings. The imminent signing of this contract represents the definitive step for this transport system, long-awaited by the citizens of Jaén, to finally become operational.