Lecheria–AIFA Passenger Train Targets 1Q26 Launch

President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico’s long-awaited passenger rail link connecting Lecheria and Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) is expected to be ready in 1Q26, following the project’s first official test trip and the start of a multi-month commissioning phase focused on safety and system validation.

After riding the new branch line during a supervision tour, Sheinbaum said the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation (SICT) and military engineers in charge of construction committed to delivering the project in time for Semana Santa 2026, positioning the service as a direct, high-capacity connection from Buenavista, the northern Mexico City terminal of the existing Suburban Train network, to AIFA for both air travelers and commuters in the northern Valley of Mexico.

Authorities report that the project is entering its final stretch, with overall progress around 92%. According to the information presented during the tour, remaining civil works include the completion of three pedestrian bridges, while technical teams finalize and test automatic signaling and train control systems before opening to the public.

Sheinbaum frames the line as part of the federal push to restore passenger rail service after decades in which privatization shifted rail toward freight and eroded passenger routes. In public remarks, she linked the AIFA connector to broader federal rail priorities, such as the Mayan Train and Interoceanic projects, alongside new passenger corridors under development.

Route Scope and Travel Times

The Lecheria–AIFA branch is designed as an extension of Suburban Train Line 1, adding 23.7km of rail infrastructure with six intermediate stations and an airport terminal station, enabling a full trip of roughly 43 minutes from Buenavista to AIFA under regular operations.

The supervised ride began at Cueyamil and ran at controlled speed to the AIFA terminal, underscoring that the project is now transitioning from construction to testing and operational readiness. Federal officials outline an initial operating concept intended to mirror the Suburban Train service window: trains would run from 5:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., aligned with the existing Buenavista–Cuautitlan schedule, and maintain about 15-minute intervals.

The service is planned to use 10 couplable trainsets (five cars per train) with capacity of up to 719 passengers per convoy. Of the total fleet, seven trainsets would be in constant operation, two held in reserve, and one assigned to ongoing maintenance to protect service continuity.

Payment is expected to be integrated with Mexico City’s Integrated Mobility Card reinforcing the government’s aim to make the airport rail link function as a seamless part of the metropolitan public transport ecosystem rather than a stand-alone airport shuttle.

In a public message, State of Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez said the supervision tour confirmed progress on the Lecheria–AIFA segment and highlighted the project’s expected benefits for residents of Tultitlan, Tultepec, Nextlalpan, and Zumpango, among other municipalities.

Gómez also argued the rail connection will strengthen AIFA’s regional positioning and help ensure safe and efficient transfers for visitors during the FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host in 2026, framing the line as a key mobility asset ahead of the tournament.

Intermodality and Demand Expectations

Project planners estimate an initial daily demand of over 82,000 passengers, supported by direct connections to major transit systems in both Mexico City and the State of Mexico.

In Mexico City, the Buenavista hub connects with Metro Line B and Metrobús Lines 1, 3, and 4, while in the State of Mexico the corridor is designed to link with Mexibús and local transport services. The goal is to improve north-metro mobility while also reducing friction for airport access, one of AIFA’s persistent challenges since opening.

Beyond stations and track, the rail project has required complementary road and right-of-way interventions. In October 2025, the federal government published a DOF decree expropriating 24,384.16m2 in Nextlalpan, State of Mexico, for construction of the Nextlalpan vehicular overpass, described as part of the infrastructure needed for the Suburban Train extension toward AIFA, MBN reports.