Sheinbaum Reports Advances on Mexico’s Passenger Rail Plan

Authorities have secured right of way for the Mexico-Queretaro, Queretaro-Irapuato, Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo, and AIFA-Pachuca passenger lines. During President Claudia Sheinbaum's press conference, government officials highlighted progress on Mexico’s passenger rail plan, including corridor timelines and Alstom’s 47-train contract, plus a brief update on Mayan Train freight.

Authorities have secured 24.9 million m² of right of way for the Mexico-Queretaro, Queretaro-Irapuato, Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo, and AIFA-Pachuca passenger lines, stated government officials during Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference. Officials also detailed advances on the government’s “Trenes del Norte” program, including right-of-way releases, construction advances, rolling-stock procurement, and a broader pipeline of intercity corridors now moving from planning into execution. 

Sheinbaum says the northern passenger-rail buildout is going well, emphasizing that one of the most complex parts of any rail program, securing right of way, has advanced faster than expected thanks to cooperation from communities along the corridors.

According to figures presented during the briefing, the government has already secured 24.9 million m² of right of way for the initial package of passenger lines: Mexico-Queretaro, Queretaro-Irapuato, Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo, and AIFA-Pachuca.

Officials added that the released land corresponds to 1,905 properties across 54 municipalities in eight states, and that the process included formal engagement with 123 ejidos and communities, plus consultations with 12 Indigenous communities.  

Right-of-way work also required relocations in some cases. The government reported that 44 families living on the corridor were re-housed, some with newly built homes, others with funds to purchase housing, representing an investment of MX$28 million (US$1.63 million).  

In her remarks, Sheinbaum highlighted near-term milestones for passenger service in central Mexico:

• Mexico City-AIFA is expected to begin operations before Easter Week 2026.

• Mexico City-Queretaro and AIFA-Pachuca are targeted to be operating in 2027

The emphasis on these launch dates framed the government’s broader argument that the rail plan is advancing on time. Beyond right-of-way releases, the briefing included updates on early-stage works and project management. Reporting from the same conference indicates that basic engineering work, covering technical studies for more than 1,330km has been completed for the first phase, supporting the transition into construction.  

A government recap of the presentation also cited early construction progress on key segments, including:

• Mexico City-Pachuca: reported progress of 22%, with multiple work fronts and more than 11,000 direct jobs

• Mexico City-Queretaro: reported progress of nearly 10%, with more than 14,000 direct jobs

On the northern trunk, coverage of the conference described active fieldwork and packaging strategies, particularly around the Monterrey metro area, aimed at dividing complex urban stretches into manageable procurement lots. 

One of the most concrete announcements tied to Trenes del Norte was the award for manufacturing 47 passenger trains to Alstom México, with expectations that the first trainsets will arrive around mid-2027. The award was granted through an International Open Electronic Public Tender overseen by the Railway Transportation Regulatory Agency (ARTF). According to the tender documents, the procurement covers the design, manufacture, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of the rolling stock, as well as the equipment of inspection and maintenance facilities required for long-term operation. 

The trains will be designed for intercity service, with top speeds in the 160km/h-200km/h range. Electric traction is expected on the Mexico City-Pachuca segment and diesel-electric operation on other parts of the network. 

Authorities also mentioned plans for future expansions, which include additional corridors such as:

• Irapuato-Guadalajara

• Queretaro-San Luis Potosi

• San Luis Potosi-Saltillo

• Mazatlan-Los Mochis 

The government argues that the program is not limited to a few flagship links, but is being structured as a network buildout — pairing engineering studies, right-of-way work, procurement, and phased construction to keep multiple corridors advancing in parallel. 

Mayan Train Cargo Update

While the focus was passenger rail in the north and center, Sheinbaum also referenced the Tren Maya freight project, stating it is 25% complete and proceeding on schedule. Authorities say that the first stage is expected to be finished in December 2026, with full completion targeted for September 2027, creating 11,537 direct jobs.