Project Progress and Key Developments
The Mexican federal government’s passenger train project is advancing with ongoing construction, technical studies, and the release of right-of-way processes across various entities, covering more than 780 kilometers in works and over 1,600 sites released.
Project Phases and Construction Status
Andrés Lajous, General Director of the Rail Transport Regulatory Agency, explained that the first phase of the project, spanning 787 kilometers from Mexico City to Pachuca, Querétaro, Irapuato, Saltillo, and Nuevo Laredo, is at various stages of construction.
- The first phase includes the following routes:
- Mexico City to Pachuca
- Pachuca to Querétaro
- Querétaro to Irapuato
- Irapuato to Saltillo
- Saltillo to Nuevo Laredo
Parallel to this, technical studies have begun for a second phase, which will include the Irapuato-Guadalajara, Querétaro-San Luis Potosí, and Saltillo-Mazatlán-Los Mochis tracts.
Train Specifications and Infrastructure Improvements
Lajous mentioned that the tracks will be dedicated to passenger service, utilizing existing right-of-way and high-speed trains reaching speeds between 160 and 200 km/h. For the Mexico City-Pachuca segment, 15 electric trains by CRC have been awarded, with the first model expected to arrive in Q4 2026.
Additionally, strategic points of interest include the expansion of the Buenavista station, serving as a starting point for travel to Nogales and Nuevo Laredo. Key improvements include nine total tracks, new platforms, and a complete reconfiguration of ticket areas and access points.
Right-of-Way Release Process
Edna Vega Rangel, Secretary of Sedatu, emphasized that the right-of-way release focuses on social justice and is coordinated with SICT, the Rail Transport Regulatory Agency, and the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena).
“66% of the right-of-way already existed, so our efforts are centered on land regularization and agreements with communities,” Vega explained. “We have broken records in negotiation times, visiting houses to explain the project, and the community response has been incredible.”
- In 57 assemblies, 1,607 sites in 127 ejidos and 264 land surveys meeting all legal requirements have been released.
- Payments to property owners and ejido members are made directly without intermediaries, backed by the National Institute for the Administration and Valuation of Bienes Nacionales (Indaabin) and through the Fondo Nacional de Fomento Ejidal (Fifonafe).
Néstor Núñez López, head of the SICT’s Institutional Linkage and Assets Unit, highlighted that the right-of-way acquisition and release process is conducted without hiring private companies, adhering to the presidential instruction to avoid intermediaries and ensure social justice.
Núñez also mentioned addressing indigenous consultations, such as those from 13 Otomi communities in eight ejidos along the Mexico City-Querétaro segment. In cases of relocation, like AIFA-Pachuca, families were moved to new homes managed by the National Housing Commission (Conavi).
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Mexican federal government’s passenger train project? It is a rail transport initiative aiming to construct and modernize passenger train services across Mexico, covering more than 780 kilometers in various phases.
- What are the key developments in this project? The first phase is under construction, technical studies for a second phase have begun, and over 1,600 sites have been released through direct payments to property owners.
- What are the train specifications and infrastructure improvements? High-speed trains with speeds between 160 and 200 km/h will serve passenger services. Key infrastructure improvements include nine total tracks, new platforms, and a complete reconfiguration of ticket areas and access points.
- How is the right-of-way release process being conducted? The process focuses on social justice, coordinating with relevant agencies and directly paying property owners without intermediaries.
