Ferrovalle to Invest in Infrastructure, Smart Tech Upgrades

Ferrocarril y Terminal del Valle de México (Ferrovalle) announced plans to invest MX$400 million (US$22.4 million) in 2026 to upgrade infrastructure and implement advanced digital and automation technologies across its intermodal and railway divisions.

“This investment will go toward automation, smart cameras, and digital process optimization,” said Francisco Fabila, Ferrovalle’s CEO. “We are focused on increasing volume, but even more on efficiency. The faster we move containers and trains, the greater our capacity.”

The intermodal terminal has maintained an average 45% occupancy so far in 2025, with expected growth between 3% and 4% in volume. “We can potentially double capacity with current processes, but with improvements, we’ll increase efficiency by about 10%,” Fabila explained. The railway division, currently operating at 49% capacity, expects to maintain similar levels with a 1% to 2% increase in freight volume.

Ferrovalle will also expand its customs facilities, add automated rail and gate arches, and deploy the Smart Yard system used at the Port of Long Beach by the second half of 2026. The system aims to shorten truck service times and optimize cargo flow. “Right now, the average truck processing time is 31 minutes, which is highly competitive. But Smart Yard will help us reduce costs, fuel use, and handling time even further,” Fabila noted.

On the automotive side, the company plans to reopen a terminal originally built with Ferromex in 2023, initially used for vehicle imports. Due to a slowdown in automotive imports, the site was temporarily repurposed for intermodal operations. Ferrovalle now plans to reassign it to automotive logistics by April 2026, expanding capacity to handle up to 800 vehicles.

Ferrovalle and Grupo México Transportes (GMXT) inaugurated the automotive terminal in 2023, establishing direct rail connections for vehicle distribution in Mexico City and surrounding regions.

The company’s logistics network serves key corridors including Monterrey, Juarez, Mexicali, Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas, Veracruz, and Piedras Negras. The Piedras Negras corridor, operated jointly with Ferromex, has posted double-digit growth, moving around 2,000 containers per month. Ferrovalle expects continued expansion as major North American freight operators increase collaboration with Ferrovalle Intermodal.

Over the past two years, Ferrovalle has invested about US$15 million in yard upgrades, locomotive modernization, and automation projects. While overall cargo volumes have slowed, Fabila forecasts modest recovery in late 2025 and steady growth through 2026.

“After a period of limited new partnerships, the intermodal industry is now seeing renewed collaboration to create new corridors and services,” Fabila said. “There is a clear vision to expand intermodal transport and meet the evolving needs of users.”