Passenger Trains in Mexico: Economic Growth

By @dM1nBlog

Passenger trains in Mexico are part of a federal government initiative aimed at boosting national tourism and accelerating the country’s economic growth.

The railway has become an indispensable ally for Mexico, as the National Development Plan seeks to implement several freight transport projects to expedite economic growth through more direct and efficient routes than those currently in use. Beyond the rise of locomotives for freight transport, there are other projects that are resurfacing after years of being almost “extinct”: passenger trains in Mexico.

Currently, aside from “El Chepe” (which runs from Sinaloa to Chihuahua) and the smaller “Tequila Express” and “Tijuana-Tecate” routes, there are few opportunities for people to experience train travel. However, this is expected to change in the coming decades.

In February of this year, an announcement was made promising to revolutionize national tourism with the creation of 11 new lines that will connect various parts of the country. Although these are still in the planning stages, and the work is expected to be completed by 2050, it could mark a turning point for Mexico’s economic growth.

These are the proposed routes under the Fourth Transformation:

  • Pacific Train: 4,700 kilometers in length. It will run from Baja California to Chiapas.
  • El Chepe (already existing): 673 kilometers. It traverses the famous Copper Canyon, from Los Mochis, Sinaloa to Creel, Chihuahua.
  • Western Train: 2,250 kilometers. From Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua to Lázaro Cárdenas, CDMX.
  • Eastern Train: 2,000 kilometers. Starting from Guerrero and heading north through Morelos, Hidalgo, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
  • Transversal Train Route: 1,200 kilometers. Running from Mazatlán, Sinaloa to Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
  • Gulf Train: 1,650 kilometers. From Matamoros, Tamaulipas to Tabasco.
  • Bajío Train: 1,500 kilometers. From Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco to Poza Rica, Veracruz.
  • Central Train: 1,300 kilometers. From Guadalajara, Jalisco to Veracruz, Veracruz.
  • Isthmus Train: 300 kilometers. The shortest route, from Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca.
  • Oaxaca Train: 750 kilometers. It would pass through iconic points in Oaxaca such as Huatulco and Puerto Escondido, ending in Puebla.
  • Maya Train: 1,800 kilometers. Already under construction, it will cross Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán.

Can you imagine traveling across the country by train? These are still distant projects, but once realized, they will diversify national tourism and provide travelers with more options to explore every corner of Mexico.

For now, the three existing passenger train routes in Mexico enjoy great popularity, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more people opting for rail travel due to its safety, accessibility, and low environmental impact.

Undoubtedly, the locomotive plays a key role in the current administration and the years to come in fostering Mexico’s economic growth. We invite you to travel on trains like “El Chepe” and prepare for the future of national tourism!

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