Mexico–Queretaro Rail Work Paused in Teoloyucan

Construction work on the Mexico–Queretaro passenger rail project remains suspended in the municipality of Teoloyucan, State of Mexico, following residents’ demands for a local station and additional crossing infrastructure. 

El Universal reports that The pause was agreed after a meeting between community representatives and federal authorities from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT), military engineers from Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), and representatives of the Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF). The goal is to open a formal dialogue process and review residents’ requests.

Federal authorities say that while the Mexico–Queretaro rail works are underway and will continue, execution should move forward in an orderly manner and in coordination with affected communities. An inter-institutional working table is expected to be set up to follow up on citizen demands and maintain dialogue with a neighborhood commission.

The project includes two new vehicular bridges and five pedestrian bridges, reports El Universal, adding that a bridge near the Gran Canal area was dismantled and would be reinstalled about 300m away.

Engineers from SEDENA and SICT explain that the initiative foresees closing 10 pedestrian and vehicular crossings due to the confinement of the rail line, and replacing them with new crossing points to maintain local mobility, according to La Jornada. SEDENA specialists also carried out mobility studies over six months, counting pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, and livestock crossings, to better match infrastructure to local needs.

Officials say the project has an environmental impact authorization and that mitigation and restoration measures would be implemented to address environmental effects and protect community health, reports La Jornada. 

The dispute in Teoloyucan is unfolding as visible works continue along other parts of the corridor. In a separate report, El Universal said the federal government began removing a vehicular bridge in the San Mateo Ixtacalco community as part of Mexico–Queretaro rail construction. The outlet reported that residents described the structure as more than 30 years old and said it was never used due to a legal dispute involving private property.

The local dispute comes as federal officials insist the broader project is moving forward. During a site supervision visit in San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, President Claudia Sheinbaum said the project is about 8% complete, while emphasizing that right-of-way work is being handled through negotiation and “fair price” compensation, MBN reports.