The Mexican government confirmed the start of technical and feasibility studies for the construction of a passenger train between San Luis Potosí and Querétaro, one of the priority routes within the National Railway Infrastructure Plan covering the period 2018-2050.
This was announced by Andrés Lajous Loaeza, head of the Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF), during President Claudia Sheinbam’s morning press conference on Wednesday, July 30.
This new section is part of a strategic network that will connect various regions of the country through passenger-only routes, with projected speeds between 160 and 200 km/h.
The Irapuato–Guadalajara, San Luis Potosí–Saltillo, and Mazatlán–Los Mochis routes are also in the same study phase, totaling 1,336 kilometers of railway infrastructure under analysis.
The passenger train will connect key cities in the Bajío region and the north of the country
The passenger train section between Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Saltillo was officially presented in November 2024 by President Claudia Sheinbaum as part of a national strategy to reactivate rail routes that generate regional development, sustainable mobility, and improved intercity connections.
It is worth noting that, in November 2023, a presidential decree was issued seeking to revive seven passenger rail routes, including the Mexico City–Nuevo Laredo section, in which San Luis Potosí plays a central role.
This corridor will cross the state of Guanajuato and connect three strategic capitals, which is expected to spark economic opportunities, strengthen tourism, and reduce traffic congestion on key highways in the north-central part of the country.
When will construction of the San Luis Potosí–Querétaro passenger train begin?
During his speech, Lajous reported that the Querétaro–San Luis Potosí–Saltillo section will begin its construction phase in January 2026.
Furthermore, the project will be coordinated by various Mexican government agencies, such as the Ministry of Finance, SEDATU, CONAGUA, Bienestar, INPI, INAH, and local authorities.
Institutions such as the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA), which will be in charge of part of the execution, are also participating.
Meanwhile, four priority sections of this railway network are already under construction, demonstrating a progressive advance toward a new era of national rail mobility.
Mexico City–Pachuca
Mexico City–Querétaro
Querétaro–Irapuato
Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo
A commitment to regional development and connectivity
According to the ARTF, the passenger train will be a transformative factor for communities, municipalities, and states, improving intercity transportation, facilitating the mobility of people, and boosting local economies.
Similarly, the initiative also positions Mexico globally in terms of sustainable transportation infrastructure, as well as the state of San Luis Potosí as an important transit destination for the north of the country.
Thus, with these advances, San Luis Potosí is preparing to become a key logistics hub in the national rail network, reaffirming its strategic role in the north-central part of the country.
Source: liderempresarial
