Mexico Advances Buenavista Rail Hub to Hidalgo and Queretaro

Terminal Buenavista, a historic railway hub located just outside Mexico City's historic center, has entered the second phase of a major expansion project designed to transform it into the central multimodal node for Mexico's expanding passenger rail network. The modernization project is designed to accommodate new regional lines connecting the capital to Pachuca and Queretaro while scaling the terminal's daily capacity to serve more than 180,000 passengers.

The expansion works, which began in April and entered a second phase in August, include the rehabilitation of existing platforms, the installation of new rails and ballast, and the construction of new train yards and maintenance sheds. A core structural element involves connecting the existing track serving Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) with the upcoming infrastructure designated for the Pachuca line, with completion projected for June 2027.

To support these efforts, real estate corresponding to the station and its track rights has been officially allocated to the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT) under an agreement published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF).

The Mexico-Querétaro Line: Technical and Operational Profile

The Mexico City–Queretaro train project forms a core component of the Government of Mexico's national priority strategy to reactivate and modernize public passenger rail services. Designed to serve an estimated 1.5 million residents across 22 municipalities and accommodate over 30,000 daily commuters between the two cities, the line is projected to transport up to 6 million passengers annually.

The 232.42-km double-track alignment utilizes existing rights-of-way across four federal entities: the City of Mexico (7 km), the State of Mexico (71 km), Hidalgo (75 km), and Queretaro (72 km). With an estimated investment of MX$144 billion (US$8.52 billion), the line will shorten terminal-to-terminal travel times to between 90 and 120 minutes—down to an estimated 1 hour and 40 minutes—offering a direct alternative to highway congestion.

At Terminal Buenavista, land has been compacted to prepare for a dedicated platform, waiting area, and track components specifically for the Queretaro service. While earlier reporting referenced pure diesel formations, updated project specifications detail a fleet of diesel-electric trains. Designed to carry 450 passengers per train, the rolling stock features a geometric track design allowing a maximum design speed of 200 km/h and an operational speed of up to 160 km/h. Intermediate stations planned along the route include stops at Huehuetoca, Tula de Allende, and San Juan del Rio.

Construction Progress and Engineering Execution

Preliminary studies and preparation for the Mexico-Queretaro route began in October 2024, followed by the official start of construction in April 2025. The overall construction timeline spans three years, with full operations targeted for the 2025–2028 execution window. The project is managed and executed by the Secretariat of National Defense (DEFENSA) through the Felipe Angeles Engineering Group.

As of June 2026, overall project progress reached 19.22%. Key progress metrics and civil engineering milestones include:

• Right-of-Way (RoW) Liberation: 80% of the required RoW has been cleared, totaling 8,725,155 m² across 1,148 parcels (comprising 48% historical RoW, 38% social property, and 14% private property).
• Active Construction Fronts: 14 active fronts (12 dedicated to civil works and 2 to technical support studies) are currently executing 363 cross-drainage works, 22 vehicular bridges, 43 cattle passes, and 20 wildlife crossings.
• Earthworks & Structural Foundations: Ongoing work includes passenger track embankment formation, subgrade platform cuts near San Juan del Rio, rockfill placement, geotextile installation, and service road construction.
• Key Infrastructure Structures: Construction is underway on a railway overpass at the entrance to the city of Querétaro, along with pile-column structures for the passenger viaduct in the La Trinidad area.
• Labor Generation: The construction project has generated approximately 180,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Advanced Systems and National Network Expansion

Procurement for technical control and communications systems is underway. In August 2026, a public tender call (LO-09-JZO-009JZO001-T-36-2026) was issued for the design, supply, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of a 5G Standalone dedicated railway radiocommunications and telecommunications network spanning the Mexico–Queretaro–Irapuato and Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo corridors.

Beyond its regional impact, the modernization of Terminal Buenavista positions the facility as a central multimodal transfer station, integrating directly with Mexico City's Metro, Metrobús, and RTP bus lines. On a national scale, the Mexico–Queretaro corridor is planned as the primary trunk line for future rail extensions branching toward Guadalajara, Jalisco, and expanding further into northern and western Mexico toward Nuevo Laredo and Nogales.