Mexico Rail: Nuevo Laredo Launch Boosts Passenger Railway Infrastructure

Introduction

On November 7, 2025, in Nuevo Laredo, President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Minister of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport Jesús Esteva Medina launched the construction of the passenger rail section between Arroyo El Sauz and Nuevo Laredo, a key component of the Gulf of Mexico Railway project.

Main Content

Project Launch and Participants

The launch event, held during the People’s Conference, was attended by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Minister of Transport Jesús Esteva Medina, Head of the Regulatory Agency for Railway Transport (ARTF) Andrés Lajous Loaeza, and Governor of Tamaulipas Américo Villarreal Anaya.

Infrastructure Details

The project involves constructing a single-track line alongside an existing freight line. It will incorporate a 2.5 km passing loop every 20 km to facilitate two-way operations. The section is part of the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo route, spanning 136.5 km and will include three stations: Nuevo Laredo, Anáhuac, and Lampazos.

Operational Features and Route Information

Trains on the Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo route will operate at maximum speeds between 160 and 200 km/h. This will enable travel times of under two hours from Monterrey to Nuevo Laredo and three and a half hours from Saltillo. The Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo passenger railway spans 396.34 km and is part of the projects initiated this year, which also include Mexico City–Pachuca, Mexico City–Querétaro, and Querétaro–Irapuato routes. The main services will cover routes totaling 869 km.

Construction Elements and Employment

The Saltillo–Nuevo Laredo section includes 52 railway bridges, 108 drainage works, 42 road crossings, and passenger stations in Nuevo Laredo, Lampazos de Naranjo, and Anáhuac. The project is anticipated to create approximately 10,922 direct jobs and 32,766 indirect jobs. This section represents one of five construction segments underway between Saltillo and Nuevo Laredo.

Conclusion

The Mexican government is expanding and modernizing passenger and freight rail infrastructure. The launch of the Arroyo El Sauz to Nuevo Laredo section is a part of this effort, though many details remain in planning or early stages.

Company Summary

Regulatory Agency for Railway Transport (ARTF): The regulatory agency responsible for overseeing railway transport in Mexico.