"Tren Suburbano" - Mexico City

[Ed M]

Last week we were up in Mexico City. Turns out it was during the last week of trials of the first part of the new “Tren Suburbano” (Commuter rail system) that goes into commercial operation today. While they have been throwing around the idea of some type of commuter rail system since the late 80’s, it wasn’t until a few years ago that they finally got around to making it a reality and awarding contracts.

What is going into operation now is still just a small fraction of what is planned for the complete system. In fact, this first section is only 5 stations and 20 km (12 miles). Even so, users of this first section will probably save themselves an hour each way in their commute. Yeah, I know it’s hard to believe that it could take that long to get into the city, but trust me on this one. I’ve made that trip on public transport (minibuses) and it was every bit of an hour and a quarter or more. This train will make the run in 22 minutes (including the 3 intermediate stops).

Another 7 km (4.5 miles) of system 1 should open later this year. System #3 is out for bids now. System #2 should go out for bids this summer. Those 3 systems are the 3 main trunk lines. There are a number of branch lines that are either options in the contract or to be contracted at a later date. Eventually the entire system could include 200-250 km (120 – 150 miles) of rail line.

During the three weeks that the system was in trial operation they didn’t charge for tickets. But operation was only provided during certain hours, and they often stopped or held the trains for whatever testing they were doing. Still it gave a lot of future users (and a few of us fans) a chance to get acquainted with the new system.

A book could be written about the system, but I figure you’d really rather see some photos. So here we go.

The southern terminal for the line is at Buenavista Station, which was the main passenger terminal in Mexico City. While they tore down all the platforms and tracks, they did maintain the main concourse. Here’s a shot of the façade of the building.





Here’s a shot of the interior of the main concourse.





And here’s what the train itself looks like. They can make these up in 2, 3 or 4 car sets. Powered by overhead cat lines. I think the trains are capable of reaching around 90 miles an hour, but will normally run up to a maximum of 50 mph. The track is all new, concrete ties and welded rail, the right-of-way is continually fenced.





Here’s a banner that was hanging up that gives a rough idea of system #1. The lower part in green is the part going into operation now, with stations at Buenavista, Fortuna, Tlalnepantla, San Rafael and Lechería. The nest two stations, in the section in black, Tultitlan and Cuautitlan, are supposed to go into operation later this year. The upper section, in white, out to Huehuetoca, is either an option in the contract for future extension or not yet contracted (I’m not clear which).





More to come.

Ed

[Ed M]

Here’s your intrepid reporter standing alongside a recently arrived unit inside Buenavista Station.





And here I am again inside the train. This is probably the only time you’ll ever see one of these cars so empty. Even during the trial period, most of the trains we rode had a lot more passengers than this one. I just hit it right on this one.





Here we are at a typical station on line. I don’t remember which station this was, but they are all very similar in design. Access and exit is by way of the stairway in the middle, then out through an attached mini-mall commercial center that will have some 80 (+/-) shops.





The mini-malls themselves are still in the mid stages of construction and will not be ready until late this year or early next year. And because of this most of the stairways to the outside are temporary, and made of scaffolding. At least it is industrial grade scaffolding, and the stairways were very well done. Here’s a shot of the outside of the mall at the Lechería station.




More to come.

Ed
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[Ed M]

Riding the Tren Suburbano is a railfan’s delight. It occupies part of the original railroad r-o-w, and so it passes alongside the main yard complex for Mexico City. You get to see the intermodal yard, the classification yard, the hump, the receiving yard, the locomotive servicing facility, and some other misc storage yards. The main incoming lines run right next to the fenced r-o-w of the Tren Suburbano.

It's not necessarily that great for taking photos of the yards, as the Tren Suburbano is going pretty fast, and you have posts and fences whipping by constantly, plus the movement and the reflection off the windows. But just for observing it's great. Plus, it's now quick and easy to get to either Tlalnepantla or Lechería.

Here’s a shot showing the Tren Suburbano arriving, and you can see a pair of FTVM switchers working a cut of cars over in the yard.





Here’s a better shot of them as they came closer to the station.





Here’s a shot of part of a KCSM locomotive heading north with a train. It’s right on the other side of the fence, and so close that I couldn’t get it all in the picture.




One more post to come.

Ed
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[Ed M]

After tearing out the old platforms and tracks a Buenavista, they built this concrete structure over what are the new platforms and tracks. Eventually there will be a new fancy mall built on top of this. But that is in the early stages of construction, and in any case it doesn’t impact the operation of the trains. There are 4 arrival/departure tracks at Buenavista. In this photo we’re coming in on #2, you can see #3 and #4 to the right, and there’s one more track left of our train. There is room for two more tracks, and I’m not sure if that is something planned for the future or not.





Lechería, the current northern limit of the system, was well known as a great place to photograph trains arriving and departing Mexico City. There wass a grade crossing there that was a convenient place to shoot. A number of photos in the “NdeM in Color” book were taken there. And even I have a number of photos in my “Railfanning in Mexico” rail images album that I took there. Well that crossing no longer exists. As part of the requiremet to maintain grade separation for the new high speed (relatively speaking) Tren Suburbano, all crossing have been closed, and a number of new overpasses constructed. Here’s the one at Lechería.





Even the rails for the Tren Suburbano itself need overpasses. In this case it’s to allow the mainline coming from Veracruz to join into the main lines heading south into Mexico City. That FTVM switcher is handling a work train right under the Tren Suburbano overpass. This is also in Lechería, just a bit north of the station, and in the part of the system that is still under construction.






Well, that’s about it for an introduction to the latest on passenger rail travel in Mexico. It may not be the classic long distance trains of yesterday, but at least it’s passenger service on rails.

Best regards

Ed
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[BoxcabE50]

The equipment appears to be of European manufacture? Are the contractors local? Or are outside firms coming to bid?

Boxcab E50

[Ed M]

Originally Posted by BoxcabE50

The equipment appears to be of European manufacture? Are the contractors local? Or are outside firms coming to bid?

Good eye. Yeah, the trains are Spanish manufacture. The main contractor for the system is Grupo CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) from Spain.
http://www.caf.net/ingles/home/index.php

Most of the bidders on the systems are consortiums, usually involving mostly foreign firms that already have experience in manufacture and construction of these types of systems. Of course they are contracting out the actual construction of the stations and right-of-ways to local firms.

Regards

Ed

[BoxcabE50]

Interesting web site. Looks like a company that's really going places.

Boxcab E50

[espee4441]

Ed, fantastic! To bad about Lecheria, but change is inevitable. I wish I had visited it more often.

[Ed M]

Hey, Tony, good to hear from you. Actually, we'll just have to wait and see how the layout is after all the construction finishes. It'll be different, that's for sure. But it may still be a good place for photos. It's sure easier to get to these days.