ARTF to Invest US$68.44 Billion to Expand Mexico’s Rail Network

Mexico is undertaking an unprecedented public investment of MX$1.31 trillion (US$68.44 billion) to expand its railway infrastructure by 3,400km during the current administration, according to Andrés Lajous, Head, Regulatory Agency for Railway Transport (ARTF). The administration is also working to deliver results on time and within budget, says Lajous to El Economista.

“What truly matters is completing the work efficiently. We are working intensely with a multidisciplinary team to meet our goals,” says Lajous. The team includes experts with experience in urban mobility, federal infrastructure, and large-scale tourism projects like the Mayan Train. The plan includes not only new rail lines and stations, but also viaducts, tunnels, pedestrian crossings, and other key components to support a modern, efficient passenger rail system.

Strategic Execution and a Multi-Disciplinary Team

While authorities are making a record-breaking investment, the priority is to deliver the infrastructure on time and within budget, says Lajous. To accomplish this, the ARTF has assembled a highly skilled team comprised of former collaborators from Mexico City’s Mobility Ministry, technical experts from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT), and professionals from the National Fund for Tourism Development (FONATUR), many of whom played a crucial role in developing the Mayan Train.

“The Mayan Train and the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (CIIT) together extend 2,200km, an unprecedented figure. This is a major challenge, but it builds on existing progress. Passenger trains are vital to the country because they improve travel quality between cities, reduce emissions, enhance passenger safety, and generate significant economic impact,” says Lajous.

President Claudia Sheinbaum says that the new trains will be managed by the same military-linked company overseeing the Mayan Train, an entity under the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA). Agencies such as SEMARNAT, SEDATU, CONAGUA, INAH, and INDAABIN have been involved in the project from its early stages, Lajous says. Additionally, the SICT has strengthened its community outreach division to ensure smooth handling of right-of-way issues, drawing from experience gained in the development of the Mayan Train.

Broader Legislative, Investment Context

This plan is part of a broader national effort to modernize Mexico’s rail network. In December 2024, the government announced a MX$157 billion (US$7.6 billion) investment for 2025 to expand passenger rail routes and adapt the Mayan Train for cargo. The initiative is projected to create 70,000 direct and 140,000 indirect jobs. By April 2025, the government confirmed the funds would support 774km of passenger rail construction, 70km of cargo rail for the Mayan Train, and 170km for the CIIT.

In tandem, legislative efforts are also advancing. Sheinbaum introduced in April a reform to overhaul the national railway regulatory framework, including the creation of a new decentralized body: the Agency for Trains and Integrated Public Transport (ATTRAPI). Approved by the Chamber of Deputies in May, the reform supports the development of 3,500km of railway lines designed to connect over 49 million people across six urban zones, 11 municipal hubs, and 19 metropolitan areas.