In its first stage of operation, with four stations in the state, the Mexico-Toluca Interurban Train managed to reduce travel times by up to 75 percent for the inhabitants of six municipalities in the state of Mexico that it crosses. The journey of 21 kilometers went from an hour and 20 minutes by bus to less than half an hour, according to users.
Construction workers, students and residents are the main beneficiaries of the route that goes from Zinacantepec, located west of the metropolitan area of the Valley of Toluca, to the industrial corridor of Lerma, commented security personnel who work in the facilities. To see its panoramic view and experience what it feels like to travel on this new means of transport, Mr. Óscar Modragón moved from Naucalpan in his car and left it in the parking lot of the Zinacantepec terminal.
There he started his trip to pass through the stations Toluca, Metepec and Lerma, the terminal; then he returned and took the opportunity to ask other users to take the souvenir photo. “It’s very beautiful, I wish there was more transport like this in the city”. He said that in September he could not come to know it, because the service was free “but the lines were very long”.
In that first month of operations, a figure of 50 thousand daily travelers was reached; the peak was recorded on September 24 with more than 58 thousand.
Already in October when the rate of 15 pesos came into force, the number of passengers dropped to about 10 thousand, indicated the Chamber of Passenger and Tourism Transport of the state of Mexico.
To verify the times, routes and operability, La Jornada boarded the convoy, it was possible to verify that on average 50 people board at the terminals and only at peak hours the influx almost triples.
“At 7 in the morning, when they go to work, and from 6 in the afternoon for the return, there are more people”, said Susana, a vigilante who strives to supervise that the places for people with disabilities, located near the doors, are respected.
The modern railway with the colors of the Mexican flag has five interconnected wagons, designed for 719 passengers (326 seated and 393 standing). The average speed is between 60 and 70 kilometers per hour. Of great amplitude in its corridors, with beige seats cushioned in fabric and with a separation designed for comfort, users observe through the large windows, while the megaphone announces the arrival at the next stop.
In Metepec, Guadalupe got on, who pointed out that there are no vendors in the surroundings of the facilities, “because when there is street vending everything gets complicated and there is crime.
According to users, the greatest boon of “El Insurgente” will be when it reaches Mexico City and they have no doubt that it will improve mobility in the region.
The journey will be 39 minutes and it is estimated that it will serve some 230 thousand passengers a day. The section corresponding to the capital of the country will start operating this year.
The tests of the trains are scheduled for March 2024. The remaining stations are Santa Fe, Vasco de Quiroga and Observatorio. They will cross the wooded area of the La Marquesa park, the corporate and residential area of Santa Fe and then reach Observatorio, where line 1 of the Metro converges.
It is a 38-kilometer stretch that is built with an investment of 62 billion pesos.
The aerodynamic was an unfinished work of the administration of Enrique Peña Nieto in which 30 billion pesos were invested. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador decided to conclude the project that will finally cost around 100 billion pesos. It was named “El Insurgente” by the president because the inauguration was held during the celebrations of the national holidays. In addition, on its route it will cross the Monte de las Cruces, an emblematic place for the history of Mexico and its Independence, where Miguel Hidalgo fought.
Source: La Jornada
