FlyWithX

Trains - Mexco

Mexico is undertaking an ambitious expansion and modernization of its railway network, with numerous projects focused on both passenger and freight transport. These initiatives are part of a broader national development plan aiming to boost economic growth and connectivity across the country.

Key railway projects in Mexico include:

Passenger Rail Projects

  • Tren Maya: This 1,525 km (approximately 948 miles) railway project traverses the Yucatán Peninsula, connecting major cities and tourist areas across the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo. Construction began in 2020, with sections already commencing operations in late 2023. The project aims to reduce passenger and freight transportation costs and support industrial and tourism development in the southeast.
  • Mexico City-Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA)-Pachuca Passenger Train: Construction for this line began in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by August 2026, aiming to serve 80,000 passengers daily. The train from Buenavista to AIFA is expected to open before the end of 2025.
  • Mexico City-Querétaro Passenger Train: This line is part of a larger plan to connect Mexico City with Nogales. Construction began in April 2025 for the Mexico-Querétaro tranche, with an aim to serve 6 million passengers annually upon completion. The full Mexico-Querétaro route is expected to open in late 2027.
  • "El Insurgente" (Mexico-Toluca Intercity Train): This 58 km (approximately 36 miles) electrified double-track train project, connecting Mexico City with Toluca, is 98% complete and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025. It will carry an estimated 230,000 passengers daily.
  • Querétaro-Irapuato Passenger Train: Tendering for this section is expected to begin in June 2025, with construction following shortly after. It is slated to start operations in 2028.
  • Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo Passenger Train: Bidding for this route is also scheduled for July 2025, with operations anticipated to commence in 2028.
  • México–San Luis Potosí–Monterrey–Nuevo Laredo Passenger Train: This is a broader passenger rail initiative.
  • México–Querétaro–Guadalajara–Tepic–Mazatlán–Nogales Passenger Train: This represents an extensive proposed passenger rail corridor.

Freight Rail and Integrated Corridor Projects

  • Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT): This project involves expanding rail transport and includes completing the rail line connecting Dos Bocas Refinery with Roberto Ayala station and the CIIT network. It also includes completing Line K from Ixtepec to Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, with a planned connection to Guatemala. This corridor primarily focuses on cargo transport, aiming to rival the Panama Canal.
  • Incorporating freight operations into Tren Maya: The Tren Maya is also designed to include freight services.
  • Durango-Mazatlán Corridor Expansion: In January 2022, a 180-kilometer rail expansion in this corridor was approved, with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion, to revive and expand the abandoned corridor under a private-public partnership.

Summary

The Mexican government, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, plans to continue developing rail infrastructure, with a vision to construct 13 new passenger train routes covering over 3,000 km by the end of the current administration in 2030. The overall "Plan Mexico" strategy includes a projected $58 billion investment over five years to deploy 5,645 km of railway across 24 states.