Mexico Begins Construction of Arroyo El Sauz–Nuevo Laredo Rail

The Government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT), has officially begun construction of the Arroyo El Sauz–Nuevo Laredo section of the Gulf of Mexico Passenger Train, marking a major milestone for the country’s rail network revival.

This first stage covers a 136.48km section of the broader Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo route, says Andrés Lajous, Head, Rail Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF). The line will include three stations, Nuevo Laredo, Anahuac, and Lampazos, offering long, medium, and short-distance travel options to connect metropolitan areas and employment centers across Monterrey, Saltillo, and northern Tamaulipas.

The project will feature a single passenger track running parallel to an existing freight line, with 2.5km passing sidings placed every 20km to facilitate dual-track operations when required. Trains on the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo route will reach speeds of 160km/h-200 km/h, reducing travel times to under two hours from Monterrey to Nuevo Laredo and around three and a half hours from Saltillo.

The corridor will encompass 52 rail bridges, 108 drainage works, and 42 vehicular crossings, as well as three passenger stations, one main terminal in Nuevo Laredo and two smaller ones in Lampazos de Naranjo and Anahuac. Construction is expected to generate over 10,900 direct jobs and 32,700 indirect jobs.

Lajous says that the right of way is already secured, enabling immediate mobilization of construction teams. The section is one of five segments currently under development along the Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo corridor, part of the federal government’s broader passenger rail expansion strategy.

The project is “a major infrastructure endeavor that strengthens the region’s future and consolidates Nuevo Laredo as Latin America’s leading economic border,” says Américo Villarreal, Governor Tamaulipas. 

The 396.34km Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo route is one of several new passenger lines that began construction this year, alongside the Mexico City-Pachuca, Mexico City-Queretaro, and Queretaro-Irapuato routes. Together, they form key components of the Tren del Golfo de Mexico, envisioned to connect Mexico City with the northern border and enhance regional integration, sustainable transport, and economic competitiveness.