AIFA–Pachuca Passenger Train (Tren México–Pachuca)

Alignment

The line is the third stage of the Tren Felipe Ángeles, the Tren Suburbano service from Buenavista in Mexico City to Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), which opened in April 2026. Pachuca trains will leave that line at Xaltocan in Nextlalpan, State of Mexico, rather than at the airport terminal, so riders from Mexico City can stay on the train to Hidalgo. From there the line runs northeast through Tecámac and Temascalapa in the State of Mexico and Tizayuca, Tolcayuca, Villa de Tezontepec, Zapotlán, and Zempoala in Hidalgo to Pachuca. Planned stations are Xaltocan II, Tizayuca–Temascalapa, Jagüey de Téllez, and Pachuca, plus four smaller stops served only at set times: Xolox, Huitzila, Empalme del Rey, and Platah. The Pachuca terminal will connect with the Tuzobús bus rapid transit system. A depot is planned at Mineral de la Reforma and a maintenance base at Zapotlán.

The line is about 57 km of electrified double track. The train contract calls for a top speed of 130 km/h, while the current federal project sheet gives a design speed of 120 km/h. Planned trip times are about 38 minutes from Xaltocan to Pachuca and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Buenavista. Ridership estimates have ranged from about 83,000 to 108,000 passengers a day. The service will use 15 electric trains from CRRC, compatible with the Tren Suburbano. The Army’s Felipe Ángeles engineering group is building the line, and ATTRAPI, the federal passenger rail agency, leads the program.

Updates

2026-09 — Works reach 45%; first train car arrives

ATTRAPI head Andrés Lajous told the president’s morning press conference on September 23 that the line was 45% complete, with 98% of the right-of-way acquired and about 8,800 workers on 10 work fronts. He said the first car of the first train had reached the port of Manzanillo and that the second train would follow a few weeks later. President Claudia Sheinbaum said the first start-of-service events on the Pachuca and Querétaro lines are expected in 2027.

2026-05 — Progress at 34.8%; completion set for June 2027

At a May 20 progress report, the government put the line at 34.8% complete, with construction due to finish in June 2027 and 98% of the right-of-way freed. Lajous said the first of the 15 trains would arrive in September 2026. The government later reported 37.06% progress in June.

2026-04 — Airport line opens; Pachuca trains to branch at Xaltocan

The Buenavista–AIFA line opened on April 26, 2026. Milenio reported that Pachuca trains would turn off at Xaltocan station, with no change of train needed at the airport. The AIFA–Pachuca works were then about 30% complete, with completion planned for June 30, 2027.

2025-09 — CRRC wins the train contract

A consortium led by China’s CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive won the international tender for 15 electric trains, worth MX$5.846B including VAT, with a lower price than the rival bid from Spain’s CAF. The 100-meter trains must reach 130 km/h, carry more than 700 passengers each, and be compatible with Tren Suburbano technology.

2025-08 — Opening pushed back to 2027

At an August 10 review, officials moved the opening target to the first half of 2027, up to eight months later than the original October 2026 goal. Works were 4% complete and the right-of-way was almost fully acquired. El Financiero reported costs of MX$47B for the AIFA–Hidalgo section and MX$27B for the separate Lechería–AIFA branch.

2025-03 — Construction begins

Sheinbaum led the formal start of construction on March 24, 2025. The line was then described as about 64 km long, with a top speed of 120 km/h and a trip of about 38 minutes from the airport area to Pachuca.