MEXICO, Apr 07 (IPS) – Retired blacksmith and mechanic José Hernández nostalgically remembers the passenger trains that when handed via his hometown of Huamantla within the state of Tlaxcala, southeastern Mexico.
“By the age of 15 or 16, I used to be already utilizing the prepare. It was the railway that got here from Veracruz, handed close to Huamantla, and reached” the east of Mexico Metropolis, the 99-year-old native chronicler informed IPS from his city of over 98,000 inhabitants, positioned some 160 kilometers from the capital.
The route belonged to the then-state-owned Ferrocarril Mexicano, inaugurated within the mid-Nineteenth century and operational till 1976, when passenger trains started to be deserted in favor of personal bus corporations.
Freight trains nonetheless run via Huamantla, carrying timber, oil, and numerous items in containers.
Hernández, who served as Huamantla’s mayor from 1989 to 1991, used to journey to the close by city of Apizaco, additionally in Tlaxcala, aboard coal-burning locomotives—a 30-minute journey the place a ticket to Mexico Metropolis value about three {dollars} in immediately’s cash.
“We miss the passenger service; hopefully, it would return quickly. Every part in Huamantla is deserted now. The prepare used to cease right here to load water from a deep effectively,” he lamented.
To Hernández’s delight, the federal government of Claudia Sheinbaum, in workplace since October, is selling new railway initiatives to diversify passenger transport. Nevertheless, the plan faces vital challenges, together with profitability and environmental influence.
The primary initiative is a 55-kilometer line between Mexico Metropolis and Pachuca in Hidalgo, constructed on an previous railbed. Building started on March 22 with out environmental approval—a authorized requirement—although the Surroundings Ministry granted the allow six days later.
The brand new passenger and freight line has an preliminary value of US$2.44 billion, is anticipated to open within the first half of 2027, and can cross six municipalities in Hidalgo and 4 within the neighboring state of Mexico.
The second undertaking is a 227-kilometer line between Mexico Metropolis and Querétaro, with a preliminary value of about US$7 billion, passing via 22 municipalities in 4 states. Building is about to start this April.
Each initiatives are a part of the Nationwide Railway Growth Plan and the Nationwide Industrialization and Shared Prosperity Technique (often known as Plan México), launched in January by Sheinbaum as her flagship improvement program, which additionally contains investments in electrical energy, electrical car meeting, and microprocessors.
Sheinbaum’s administration is replicating the fast-track method used for the Maya Practice (TM), with the total weight of the state equipment behind it.
Rail is much less polluting than air, sea, or highway transport, however the metal and cement required for its infrastructure restrict its eco-friendly picture.
The Mexican authorities can also be getting ready tenders for rail traces from Saltillo to Nuevo Laredo (crossing the Northern states of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas) and Querétaro to Irapuato (within the states of Querétaro and Guanajuato).
These new traces, anticipated to start out working between 2027 and 2028, will be part of seven present passenger routes, together with suburban and vacationer railways—three of that are privately concessioned.
From January to October 2024, these railways carried 42.22 million passengers, an 11% improve from the identical interval in 2023. Most (90%) have been suburban passengers, highlighting the necessity for intercity rail and the challenges of enlargement.
Environmental Paradoxes
Jaime Paredes, an instructional on the Nationwide Autonomous College of Mexico’s College of Engineering, stresses the necessity for clear definitions of effectivity, CO? emission reductions —the fuel generated by human actions chargeable for world warming—, and journey occasions.
“It’s instrument, however we should consider noise air pollution, impacts on aquifers, and financial elements. They don’t seem to be worthwhile, however they’re social initiatives. You will need to consider how they are going to be applied to mix industrial and financial components and thus cut back authorities subsidies,” he informed IPS.
Environmental influence assessments (EIAs) submitted to the Surroundings Ministry counsel the Pachuca line could have fewer impacts than Querétaro’s.
The Pachuca line will cross seven areas of very low and 7 of low ecosystem high quality, as a consequence of agriculture and human communities, inflicting 11 detrimental and 7 useful environmental impacts. Soil and water contamination are the primary issues, with six protected species recognized within the space.
The Querétaro line, nonetheless, crosses 12 very low and 30 low ecosystem-quality zones, affecting seven protected pure areas, together with Tula Nationwide Park in Hidalgo, wetlands in Querétaro, and Xochimilco, which supplies ecological companies like clear water and air to Mexico Metropolis.
Building will clear vegetation throughout 90 hectares (5 of forest, 0.62 of low jungle). The EIA discovered 63 threatened plant species and 136 fauna species. Dangers embody water supply disruption, flooding in three sections, land subsidence, air air pollution, and ecological fragmentation—although it additionally predicts socioeconomic advantages like job creation and a stronger economic system.
In complete, the Querétaro line could have 28 environmental impacts (21 detrimental, seven optimistic). The federal government assumes socioeconomic advantages will outweigh environmental prices, proposing prevention, mitigation, and compensation measures.
Whereas the Pachuca trains shall be electrical, Querétaro’s will use each electrical energy and diesel. A key downside is that Mexico’s electrical energy largely comes from fossil fuels (particularly fuel), limiting emissions reductions.
The Pachuca line’s CO? emissions are unestimated, whereas Querétaro’s will emit 37 tons month-to-month throughout development.
Precedents
Previous passenger rail initiatives provide classes.
The intercity prepare connecting western Mexico Metropolis with Toluca (often known as El Insurgente), beneath development since 2014 and partially operational since 2023, noticed its funds balloon from US$2.86 billion to US$6.85 billion.
The Maya Practice (TM), extra tourist-oriented than for native passengers, has not displaced bus journey, in line with 2024 reviews.
The TM spans 1,500 km throughout 5 southern and southeastern states, with 5 of seven deliberate sections operational since 2023. The undertaking has confronted delays, value overruns, and environmental violations.
Different indicators elevate issues. CO2 emissions from Mexico’s rail system (freight and passenger) are rising. Diesel consumption almost tripled between 2021 and late 2023. Emissions from the Suburban Practice (linking northern Mexico Metropolis and the state of Mexico) have elevated since 2021, regardless of decrease electrical energy use.
Rail knowledgeable Paredes recommends updating the 1995 Regulatory Legislation of Railway Service to “guarantee concessionaires and assignees share tasks.”
“Customers ought to be a part of complete critiques. Clear parameters and indicators are wanted to evaluate environmental influence discount. Transparency in outcomes would offer certainty. Communities and municipalities should be built-in into plans,” he urged.
In the meantime, chronicler Hernández hopes for a significant push to revive trains throughout Mexico’s landscapes.
“A robust marketing campaign is required to draw folks. Trains may very well be as in style as they as soon as have been,” he stated.
© Inter Press Service (2025) — All Rights Reserved. Authentic supply: Inter Press Service
