Mexico-Pachuca Train Construction Begins

The construction of the Mexico-Pachuca train has officially begun, the project is expected to benefit 1.2 million residents and serve an estimated 83,112 daily passengers. The new route is expected to reduce travel time by 25%-30%. The journey from Mexico City to Pachuca will now take just 1 hour and 15 minutes, while the trip from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) to Pachuca will be reduced to 38 minutes.

The train will operate at a maximum speed of 120km/h, connecting Buenavista in Mexico City to AIFA and continuing to Pachuca. The AIFA-Pachuca segment will feature the construction of 57km of dual electrified tracks, enhancing both speed and sustainability.

Andrés Lajous, Head, Regulatory Agency for Railway Transport (ARTF), says that the train will benefit daily commuters, particularly those traveling for work and school. 

The project has been developed in consultation with local communities and municipal governments to ensure connectivity beyond major urban centers. The Pachuca station will serve as a multimodal transportation hub, integrating train services with regional public transport options and featuring a small commercial area.

The planning process involved multiple government agencies, including SICT, the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (SEDATU), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the Ministry of Welfare, the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), as well as state and municipal authorities.

President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasizes the administration’s commitment to expanding passenger rail services, highlighting the government’s plan to construct 3,000km of new rail lines. The Mexico-Pachuca train is part of a broader initiative that includes the Mexico-Querataro, Queretaro-Irapuato, and Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo routes. The long-term vision includes rail lines from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo and Nogales, enhancing connectivity across the country.

The train’s construction is being carried out by the Felipe Ángeles Engineers Corps of SEDENA, and it will be operated by the Olmeca-Maya-Mexica Airport and Railway Group (GAFSACOMM), which also manages the Mayan Train and its associated hotels.

The project is expected to generate 40,000 direct jobs and twice as many indirect jobs. Governor of Hidalgo Julio Menchaca describes the initiative as a long-overdue investment that will significantly boost the state’s economic and social development.