Interurban Mexico-Toluca Train Sees Light of Day

The Interurban Mexico-Toluca Train, one of the most significant mobility projects aimed at connecting Mexico City with the State of Mexico’s capital, was inaugurated after seven years of planning. However, the train will only operate in the State of Mexico’s section as works in Mexico City’s area are not complete yet. 

The project, which started in 2015 during former President Enrique Peña Nieto’s term, was reactivated under the López Obrador administration. The project was expected to be inaugurated by the end of 2023, six years after Peña Nieto’s administration had hoped to finalize its construction. The inauguration will take place within the framework of Delfina Gómez’s swearing-in ceremony as the new governor of the State of Mexico. 

According to the original plan, the train was supposed to feature seven stations that would run from Zinacantepec in the State of Mexico to Mexico City’s Metro Observatorio station. However, during the remainder of 2023, the project will only run through the four stations in the State of Mexico. Delays in Mexico City’s segment have been mainly due to obstacles in the right-of-way granting process and problems regarding the original project’s budget. Nonetheless, both SICT and López Obrador assure that the project will be fully operational by June 2024. 

During the construction works, SICT stated that the total cost for train users along the route would be between MX$110 (US$6.4) to MX$140 (US$8.2). However, the price was set at only MX$15 (US$0.88) during the first phase of the project but will be adjusted in the coming days, says Minister of Infrastructure Jorge Nuño. The minister stated that users can use Mexico City’s Integrated Mobility Card to access the train.

Mexico City’s Branch Construction 

SICT requested the acquisition of seven plots of land for the construction of the Vasco de Quiroga station, of which six have already been granted. However, the seventh plot required the issuance of a declaration of public utility, which was only published yesterday in the DOF. SICT considers the 192.73m² plot as the most appropriate for the construction, conservation and operation of the station. 

According to the document, the correspondent authorities must notify the owners of the property, which will have 15 business days to submit to the SICT any claims they deem appropriate and present the evidence they consider relevant.