Mexico Passenger Rail

Mexico Speeds ahead on Passenger Rail: Awards Private Contracts; Doors Remain Open for U.S. companies in the Supply Chain

President Claudia Sheinbaum has made the development of passenger rail a key component of her administration’s priority infrastructure projects.  

In 2024, she announced the construction of three new passenger rail lines, with 3,000 km (approximately 1,864 miles) of new rail track to be built in four different phases.  
The projects are:
1. México City-Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA)-Pachuca passenger train.
2. México–San Luis Potosí–Monterrey–Nuevo Laredo passenger train.
3. México–Querétaro–Guadalajara–Tepic–Mazatlán–Nogales passenger train.

Note: For more information on the location of these projects, please go to: https://www.proyectosmexico.gob.mx/proyecto_inversion/servicio-publico-ferroviario-de-pasajeros/?language=en (Section: “Geolocation”).

While the Mexico City-AIFA project constructed by the Mexican Army’s Corps of Engineers began in April 2025, the Mexican Rail Transportation Regulatory Agency (ARTF) recently publicly tendered the design and construction of 3 sections of the Mexico-Nuevo Laredo line and 2 sections of the Mexico-Nogales line.

In August & September 2025, ARTF announced that the tenders had been awarded as follows:

Mexico-Nuevo Laredo Line: Saltillo-Nuevo Laredo section (347.3 km, or 215.8 mi) 
•    The Unión San Javier-Arroyo el Sauz segment—which passes through the states of Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas—(100.05 km) was awarded to ICA.
•    The Saltillo-Santa Catarina segment (111 km)—which passes through the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon—was awarded to Carso Infraestructura y Construcción (CCICSA) in partnership FCC Construcción.
•    The Arroyo el Sauz- Nuevo Laredo segment (136.28 km)—passing through the state of Tamaulipas, was awarded to Azvindi, 
Mexico-Nogales Line: Querétaro-Irapuato Section (101.4 km, or 63 mi)
•    Both tenders for the Querétaro-Apaseo del Grande segment and the Apaseo del Grande-Irapuato segment were awarded to Mota Engil. (101.4 km, passing through the states of Querétaro and Guanajuato)

The awarded contractors will be responsible for fully carrying out the following technical activities: Development of the Executive Project; Execution of Civil and Railway Works - including earthworks, embankments, foundations, structures (bridges, viaducts, overpasses and underpasses), drainage, laying of tracks (railway superstructure), and complementary works; and Testing and Final Handover – including static and dynamic testing of the track, as well as load testing of the structures, to ensure stability and safety.

The aim is to complete these 5 sections by early 2028.

NOTE: It is important to highlight that the procurement of rail track and the acquisition of passenger rolling stock is not included in these contracts.

To complete the entire new passenger-train network, 9 additional sections will be tendered, with dates to be announced soon. 
This is a prime moment for U.S. companies offering rail construction equipment—from track-laying machinery, rail welding machines, to track alignment systems—to explore collaboration opportunities with contractors driving these projects. 

For details on collaboration or to learn more about additional opportunities, please contact Commercial Specialist Diana Leon at diana.leon@trade.gov