Project Overview and Key Figures
The construction of the Mexico City-Querétaro passenger train has reached an 8% advance, with an estimated annual capacity of transporting 10 million passengers once completed. This information was reported by federal authorities.
During a supervision tour in the San Juan del Río, Querétaro segment, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo stated that there have been no significant issues in the project’s progress. The advancement, she explained, is due to ongoing engineering work, negotiations, and acquisition of railway rights.
Addressing Challenges
Sheinbaum Pardo emphasized that acquiring land for the project has been conducted fairly, with consensus from local communities. She stated, “There have been no real problems… We’ve purchased land at a fair price, and everyone agrees on the train’s benefits.”
Project Updates from Gustavo Vallejo Suárez
Gustavo Vallejo Suárez, Commander of the Felipe Ángeles Engineering Group, reported an overall project advancement of 7.5%. In the ninth front, where the supervision tour took place, the advancement reached 8%.
Vallejo Suárez mentioned that due to limited time for project execution but with available technical, financial, and labor resources, the railway was divided into 12 segments for simultaneous construction.
He also noted that the project includes tunnel construction to minimize disruption of existing traffic on the Mexico-Querétaro highway. The total new track length is 545 kilometers, with 411 kilometers for passenger use and 65 kilometers for cargo.
Querétaro’s Impact
Four construction tracts in Querétaro span 80 kilometers, creating nearly 5,000 active jobs—almost 50% of the state’s employment generated between May and November.
“There is a significant economic scale that gives us confidence in the project’s success, despite challenges like coexisting with an active freight line and supply difficulties due to winding roads,” the general of division commented.
Travel Time and Beneficiaries
The 226-kilometer train route will operate at maximum speeds between 160 to 200 kilometers per hour, according to Andrés Lajous Loaeza, head of the Agency Regulating Railway Transport.
The estimated annual demand is 10 million passengers, primarily benefiting the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (ZM), Querétaro ZM, San Juan del Río, Tula, and other nearby localities.
The travel time between Mexico City and Querétaro is approximately two hours, with San Juan del Río to Querétaro City Center taking 43 minutes and Mexico City to San Juan del Río requiring one hour and 20 minutes.
Querétaro Governor’s Perspective
During the supervision tour, Querétaro Governor Mauricio Kuri González highlighted that the project will significantly transform the state, serving as a crucial connectivity and competitiveness element.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current advancement of the Mexico City-Querétaro passenger train construction? The project has reached an 8% advance in the ninth construction front, with an overall progress of 7.5%.
- How many passengers are expected to use the train annually? The train is estimated to transport around 10 million passengers each year.
- What challenges has the project faced so far? The primary challenges have been acquiring land fairly and ensuring minimal disruption to existing traffic. However, these issues have been addressed through consensus-building and careful planning.
- What is the estimated travel time between Mexico City and Querétaro? The approximate travel time is two hours, with segment travel times of 43 minutes from San Juan del Río to Querétaro City Center and one hour and 20 minutes from Mexico City to San Juan del Río.
- How will this project impact Querétaro? The project is expected to create nearly 5,000 jobs and significantly improve connectivity and competitiveness for the state.
