about the freight services, the government proceeded to tender for the operating of the lines, establishing a fee that consortiums would pay to the argentine state. finally, in april 2002 the government awarded private company nuevo central argentino (nca), formed by local companies aceitera general deheza, banco francés del río de la plata, asociación de cooperativas argentinas and román marítima, the operation and mainteaneance of ferrocarril mitre.