MEXICO, Apr 07 (IPS) – Retired blacksmith and mechanic José Hernández nostalgically recollects the passenger trains that when handed by means of 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, situated 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 firms.
Freight trains nonetheless run by means of 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 at this time’s cash.
“We miss the passenger service; hopefully, it is going to return quickly. All the things in Huamantla is deserted now. The prepare used to cease right here to load water from a deep properly,” he lamented.
To Hernández’s delight, the federal government of Claudia Sheinbaum, in workplace since October, is selling new railway tasks to diversify passenger transport. Nevertheless, the plan faces vital challenges, together with profitability and environmental affect.
The primary initiative is a 55-kilometer line between Mexico Metropolis and Pachuca in Hidalgo, constructed on an outdated railbed. Building started on March 22 with out environmental approval—a authorized requirement—although the Atmosphere Ministry granted the allow six days later.
The brand new passenger and freight line has an preliminary value of US$2.44 billion, is predicted 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 by means of 22 municipalities in 4 states. Building is about to start this April.
Each tasks are a part of the Nationwide Railway Improvement Plan and the Nationwide Industrialization and Shared Prosperity Technique (generally known as Plan México), launched in January by Sheinbaum as her flagship improvement program, which additionally consists of 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 complete 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 be making 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 a part of seven current 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% enhance 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, a tutorial 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 liable for world warming—, and journey instances.
“It’s a superb software, however we should consider noise air pollution, impacts on aquifers, and financial elements. They don’t seem to be worthwhile, however they’re social tasks. It is very important consider how they are going to be applied to mix industrial and financial components and thus cut back authorities subsidies,” he informed IPS.
Environmental affect assessments (EIAs) submitted to the Atmosphere Ministry recommend the Pachuca line can 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 helpful environmental impacts. Soil and water contamination are the primary considerations, 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 offers 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 embrace 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 whole, the Querétaro line can have 28 environmental impacts (21 detrimental, seven constructive). The federal government assumes socioeconomic advantages will outweigh environmental prices, proposing prevention, mitigation, and compensation measures.
Whereas the Pachuca trains might 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 tasks supply classes.
The intercity prepare connecting western Mexico Metropolis with Toluca (generally known as El Insurgente), below development since 2014 and partially operational since 2023, noticed its finances 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 response to 2024 studies.
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 increase considerations. CO2 emissions from Mexico’s rail system (freight and passenger) are rising. Diesel consumption practically 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 Regulation of Railway Service to “guarantee concessionaires and assignees share obligations.”
“Customers ought to be a part of complete opinions. Clear parameters and indicators are wanted to evaluate environmental affect discount. Transparency in outcomes would offer certainty. Communities and municipalities have to be built-in into plans,” he urged.
In the meantime, chronicler Hernández hopes for a serious push to revive trains throughout Mexico’s landscapes.
“A powerful marketing campaign is required to draw individuals. Trains could possibly be as common as they as soon as have been,” he stated.
© Inter Press Service (2025) — All Rights Reserved. Authentic supply: Inter Press Service
