The Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF) reveals that the construction of the Mexico to Querétaro train, which will be of hybrid technology (diesel-electric), will cost more than 144 thousand 099 million pesos and will take more than 30 months to build.
“The investment for the rehabilitation and construction of the railway (of the Mexico to Querétaro train) is estimated at 114 thousand 099 million pesos, of which 10 percent was used for the application of prevention, mitigation and compensation measures,” says documentation from the entity headed by Andrés Lajous.
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It is striking that the estimated investment to build the Mexico-Querétaro Train is almost double that projected by the President of the Republic, Claudia Sheimbaum, and by Proyectos México, a government website where each of the works being built is presented in detail.
In October 2024, Claudia Sheinbauma Pardo reported that an investment of 75 million dollars was required for the construction of the work that seeks to change the mobility of Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Hidalgo, and Querétaro.
The Mexico City-Querétaro railway is an integral part of the strategies of the Passenger Trains 2024-2030 program, promoted by the government of Claudia Sheinbauma Pardo.
The railway program promoted by the former head of government of Mexico City aims to transform and modernize the railway transport infrastructure in Mexico, with a total length of approximately 3,839 km of railway tracks distributed in various key routes.
And among them is the Mexico – Querétaro – San Luis Potosí – Saltillo – Monterrey – Nuevo Laredo route, which covers 1,172 kilometers. Also notable is the Querétaro – Guadalajara – Tepic – Mazatlán – Culiacán – Los Mochis – Guaymas- Hermosillo – Nogales route, with a length of 2,070 kilometers.
According to the ARTF, the Mexico City to Querétaro Railway will extend for an approximate length of 230 kilometers, with an approximate travel time of one hour and 50 minutes, with a design speed of between 160 kilometers per hour and 177 kilometers per hour.
“The project will consist mainly of two tracks, and will use diesel-electric fuel, which defines it as a hybrid train,” states the document from the entity dependent on the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT).
He adds that the project aims to directly connect Mexico City with Querétaro, passing through a territory of great economic, social and cultural importance.
The Mexico to Querétaro train will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by promoting rail transport as a more efficient alternative compared to road transport, he explains.
“Although the system will not be fully electric, its hybrid technology (diesel-electric) will allow for greater energy efficiency and a significant reduction in emissions compared to freight and passenger vehicles that use only fossil fuels,” he points out.
He adds that this type of infrastructure is key to the future of transport in Mexico, by offering a greener and more efficient alternative to other more polluting means of transport.
In addition, by transporting a greater number of passengers and goods in a single journey, the railway will reduce the demand for road transport, which will indirectly contribute to the reduction of global emissions.
“This strategy is aligned with national and international environmental commitments to sustainable mobility and fuel efficiency,” says the ARTF.
The Mexico to Querétaro train includes the construction of new stations in Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, as well as San Juan del Río and Santiago de Querétaro. It also includes an existing station, Buenavista.
The mobility work requires 49 bridges, that is, 16 bridges that require adaptation, 18 expansions, and 15 new ones will be built. While in 6 existing tunnels (5 require rehabilitation of tracks, and one its reconstruction).
The ARTF plans the construction of 14 viaducts, since 4 require rehabilitation, another expansion, and 9 new ones will be built.
197 vehicular crossings are also required, that is, (86 rehabilitations, 25 expansions, and 86 new ones), as well as 42 pedestrian crossings (rehabilitation).
The road needs 200 transversal drainage works (61 rehabilitation, 89 extensions and 50 new ones), as well as 4 potential areas for the establishment of wildlife crossings
“The project contemplates the removal of forest vegetation on a surface of 90 hectares. Of which 84 hectares correspond to crasicaule scrub, 0.2130 hectares to gallery forest, 4.8562 hectares of oak forest and 0.6160 hectares of low deciduous forest in its different successional states,” it states.
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According to the Agency, the double-track railway line will be for passenger trains and one for freight trains with project speeds of 160 kilometers per hour for passenger trains and 85 kilometers per hour for freight trains. The estimated travel time is one hour and 50 minutes.
The axle loads are 32.5 tons for freight trains and 19 tons for passenger trains. The double-track railway line is for mixed traffic (passengers and freight).
Source: forbes
