Main Railway Companies in Mexico

By @dM1nBlog

Get to know the leading companies operating passenger and freight trains in the country.

Mexico’s railway network and the construction of railways continue to expand. With numerous projects involving freight trains, passenger trains, and multimodal transport, the railway industry is now at its highest point in decades. These developments would not be possible without the concession companies reconnecting the country through new routes, stations, and the rehabilitation of old tracks.

Here are the key players in Mexico’s railway industry, divided into freight trains and passenger trains.

Freight Trains

  1. Ferromex / Ferrosur: These companies operate the largest railway network in Mexico, covering approximately 11,000 km of track. Their routes traverse industrial zones and connect internationally through eight ports and six border crossings. With over 30,000 railcars, they serve sectors such as mining, energy, agriculture, and automotive.
  2. Ferrovalle: Divided into two categories, this company operates over 500 km of track with 32 locomotives. Its intermodal division moves 500,000 containers annually, with routes located in the northern and southern regions of the country.
  3. KCSM (Kansas City Southern de México): A subsidiary of the U.S.-based Kansas City Southern Lines, KCSM operates a 3,638 km system, focusing on the northeast and central regions of Mexico. It connects the ports of Lázaro Cárdenas and Tampico, Tamaulipas, and has a direct connection to the United States with partnerships for exchanges with Ferromex and Ferrosur.

Other notable companies include Union Pacific de México, BNSF Railway de México, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific Railway.

Passenger Trains

  1. Metro (CDMX): The Mexico City Metro operates one of the largest metro systems in the world, connecting the metropolitan area and parts of the State of Mexico. It has 12 lines, 184 stations, and 3,333 railcars, operating underground, at ground level, and on elevated tracks.
  2. SITUR (Guadalajara): This electric train system serves Guadalajara and its surrounding areas in Jalisco. Currently, SITUR operates three lines with 48 stations, and a fourth line with eight more stations is in progress, extending from Las Juntas to Tlajomulco Centro.
  3. Metrorrey (Monterrey): The smallest of the three, Metrorrey connects Monterrey to neighboring municipalities like Escobedo, San Nicolás, and Guadalupe. It currently operates two lines, with a third controversial line that faced years of delays (from 2013 to 2021). For now, the metro is not a widely viable option for the majority of Nuevo León’s population.

Other key players in this category include Ferrocarriles Suburbanos and Servicios de Transportes Eléctricos del D.F., as well as tourist trains like Tequila Express, Chepe, and José Cuervo Express.

Without a doubt, Mexico’s railway industry will undergo radical changes in the near future, with new routes and services emerging in both freight and passenger rail. Have you ever traveled on a passenger train to reach your destination? Share your thoughts with us!

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