The new president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has agreed to go ahead with six railway projects that were on the agenda for his term. Three of these projects are dedicated to rail freight. Mexico is experiencing a rail freight revival after the privatisation of the sector in the 2000s, and these projects were proposed to the new president by his predecessor.

The first project covers the construction of a rail track in the Tehuantepec isthmus and will connect the Pacific and Caribbean coast. Another new railway track will connect the ports of Tampico and Veracruz. This line will cover a distance of 475 kilometres. Both projects will be developed by a national-private consortium, because its short-term profitability could not be secured.

Private initiative

The opposite is true for a third new railway line from Guadalajara to Monterrey through Zacatecas and Monterrey, connecting the Mexican Pacific coast with Mexico City and the US. This project will be completely developed by private companies because its demand secures its profitability.

Meanwhile, there are three more projects for passengers services: a. railway service from Queretaro to Mexico City covering 250 kilometres; another line from Mexico City to Teotihuacán, which will cover 50 kilometres and a tourist train service from Valladolid in the state of Yucatan to Cancun, in the state of Quintana Roo.