Expansion plans unveiled for Mexico's burgeoning rail network, with progress reported in Nuevo León, Guadalajara, SLP, Sinaloa, and additional regions.
Mexico's Passenger Railway Project Progressing Swiftly
Mexico's passenger railway project, spearheaded by President Claudia Sheinbaum, is making significant strides with construction beginning on key lines this month.
The Querétaro-Irapuato passenger train line will be built in two sections: Querétaro to Apaseo el Grande (33 km) and Apaseo el Grande to Irapuato (78 km). Contract announcements for these sections are expected in mid-August and October, respectively [1][4]. Simultaneously, construction is starting on the Saltillo-Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo line, a 393.9-km stretch aimed at connecting Saltillo to the U.S. border via Monterrey [1][4].
In addition to these lines, President Sheinbaum’s administration is involved in expanding passenger rail projects such as the Mexico City-Querétaro route (using diesel trains), the Mexico City-Pachuca line (electric), the completion of the Tren Maya, and the Interoceanic line across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec [1][2]. The Maya Train freight line's first phase is on track to be operational by the end of 2026 [3].
The National Railway Plan under Sheinbaum emphasizes both maintaining existing freight concessions while expanding passenger infrastructure, aiming to build more than 3,000 km of railway track before 2030 [1][4]. Contract bidding is advancing for three additional segments and provision of more than 60 trains, with studies ongoing for new lines connecting Guadalajara, San Luis Potosí, Mazatlán, and others [1].
General Gustavo Ricardo Vallejo estimates that construction of the Mexico City-Pachuca line will generate over 60,000 direct and indirect jobs [2]. Moreover, more than 5,000 people have already found jobs on the Mexico City-Querétaro route, with an expected employment creation of approximately 200,000 people [2].
André Lajous, director of Mexico's Rail Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF), provided an update on the Mexico City-Querétaro and Mexico City-Pachuca lines [1]. Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation Minister Jesús Esteva's comments were limited to progress on the Amado Nervo Bridge connecting Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, with a scheduled completion date of November 2026 [1].
The ARTF will award contracts for trains for three lines: Mexico City-Pachuca, Mexico City-Irapuato, and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo [1]. Additionally, the call for proposals for environmental assessments for four other lines - Irapuato to Guadalajara, Querétaro to San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí to Saltillo, and Mazatlán to Los Mochis - was published on Wednesday [1].
President Sheinbaum's ambitious railroad plans are set to begin construction this month on sections of two trunk lines: one connecting Querétaro to Irapuato and another from Saltillo to the U.S. border via Monterrey. These efforts reflect a comprehensive strategy by Sheinbaum's government to revive and expand passenger rail across Mexico with a mix of electric and diesel-powered trains, supported by recent constitutional changes restoring government control of railways [2].
The passenger railway project in Mexico, as led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, includes the construction of the Querétaro-Irapuato line and the Saltillo-Monterrey-Nuevo Laredo line, with contract announcements expected for each section in August and October. This expansion is part of Sheinbaum's administration's broader focus on increasing passenger rail projects, such as the Mexico City-Querétaro route and the Mexico City-Pachuca line. The ARTF has announced it will award contracts for trains on these lines, along with the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo line. The rail transport industry, finances, and news are closely following this development in the transportation sector, particularly the progress of the North-South passenger rail projects in Mexico.
