Project Spotlight: Mexico state-Querétaro high-speed rail link

Mexico’s Querétaro state is attempting to work out financing with the federal government and the private sector to build a high-speed passenger and freight rail project linking Querétaro and Mexico state.

The federal government proposed building the line as a public-private partnership, state governor Francisco Domínguez told media outlets, adding that the idea came from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador himself. 

Construction of the line, however, will not begin next year since it was not included in the 2020 budget proposal that was presented on September 8.

“Nothing is included in the budget proposal for the Mexico-Querétaro high-speed train because the [land rights] for the rail line have already been purchased," Domínguez told reporters. “Although it’s a federal project, it’s also an [economic boost] for Querétaro.”

CONSTRUCTION

One of the companies likely to participate in the PPP is Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft and transportation equipment manufacturer which has had offices in Ciudad Sahagún, Hidalgo state, since 1992.

"We have to sit down with Bombardier because remember that Bombardier’s train division is in Mexico, in Hidalgo and that this is a PPP project,” Domínguez reportedly said.

So far, the manufacturer has had good relations with the current administration and representatives met with the president in May to discuss the company’s plans in the country. 

Although insights about their plans were not provided, the president said last year that the team in charge of the Tren Maya project was considering using trains being manufactured at Bombardier’s facility.

HIGH-SPEED TRAIN

Final details of the Mexico state-Querétaro link are still unknown although the transport and communications ministry (SCT) completed a cost analysis for the project in 2014, intending to have it completed by 2018.  

The proposal was for a three-track railroad with 14 stations, beginning in Ecatepec in Mexico state and ending in Santiago de Querétaro. 

The original idea of the 50.8bn-peso (currently US$2.66bn) project was to build a 210km line with trains traveling at up to 300km/h, each with capacity for 426 passengers. 

Passenger demand was estimated at more than 22,000 for 2019 and 23,000 for 2021.