The Mexican government, through the navy ministry, reported that Line K of the Interoceanic Train of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec has an overall progress of 87.7% and will be completed in June 2026, while the Roberto Ayala–Dos Bocas section of Line FA reaches 44.3% in the release of the right of way. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the first section of Line K will open in November and that talks are underway with the Guatemalan government to extend the line into Guatemala. She added, “This is a very important regional development project, and along the entire corridor, there are 14 Wellbeing Hubs: six of them are already under development, and the others are in the bidding process.” “There is already a great deal of interest in investing in this area. This is the major Interoceanic Railway project,” the president stated. Mexico's 2026 budget allocates 105 billion (bn) pesos (US$5.7bn) for new trains and 25bn pesos for the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, as part of the current administration's priority projects. Sheinbaum emphasized that the train, which has already been used for transporting automobiles, “generates comprehensive development, improving the quality of life in communities and boosting investment in towns near the train. These are projects with a social and economic development perspective for the south-southeast, which has been neglected for so many years, and projects that incorporate the communities.” Sections The Director General of the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Vice Admiral Octavio Sánchez, explained that Line K is comprised of three sections: “Section 1, from Ciudad Ixtepec to Tonalá, is 99.4% complete and has been undergoing load testing to settle the tracks since August 26.” The second section, from Tonalá to Huixtla, “is 79.3% complete and is expected to be finished in July of next year,” while the third section, from Huixtla to Ciudad Hidalgo, and Line KA, from Los Toros to Puerto Chiapas, “are 84.4% complete and are also expected to be finished in February of next year.” Sánchez specified that, in total, “447 kilometers of tracks will be rehabilitated, 14 stations, 439 bridges, 14 sidings, 626 drainage works and three transfer yards will be built.” The 4.3km Huixtla viaduct “is 99% complete and has generated 1,500 jobs,” he noted. Meanwhile, the linear parks are “95% complete in Arriaga and 33.3% complete in Huixtla.” The official added that the 'El Tehuanito' Suburban Train will begin operations in December of this year, with “two low-cost, efficient, and accessible routes for low-income residents of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.” He explained that “they will operate Monday through Friday along 189 km. 'El Tehuanito' North will connect Ubero with Ixtepec, and 'El Tehuanito' South will run from Unión Hidalgo to Salina Cruz.” The stations for this service “are 82.6% complete overall.” Regarding the Roberto Ayala–Dos Bocas Access Road, Sánchez indicated that it “will pass through the municipalities of Huimanguillo, Cárdenas, Comalcalco, and Paraíso, in the state of Tabasco” and that “1,766 properties will be acquired to secure the right-of-way for this project. Currently, the project is 44.3% complete.” He added that construction “began this month and will be completed in March 2027.” The Matías Romero Complex in Oaxaca “will be a key piece of infrastructure for the corridor,” as it will connect the Unified Dispatch Center, administrative offices, and railway workshops. “The works are 55% complete overall and are expected to be finished next July,” he stated. Sánchez noted that the Z and FA lines, previously rehabilitated, “now provide passenger and freight service.” Since they began operating on December 22, 2023, and September 13, 2024, respectively, “they have transported more than 134,000 passengers and more than 889,000 tons of various cargo.” Port developments The corridor director also highlighted the progress made in port infrastructure. In Coatzacoalcos, “construction of the Maritime and Port Protection Unit building is 19.7% complete and will be finished in July 2026,” while “the Multipurpose Terminal is 97.7% complete and will be finished this month.” In Salina Cruz, dredging works are “87.3% complete” and “will be finished this month.” In Dos Bocas, “the Mineral Bulk Terminal pier has been completed” and construction continues on the east and west breakwaters, whose “completion is scheduled for December 2029.” In Puerto Chiapas, infrastructure works have reached “95% completion in the Maritime and Port Protection Unit, 75% in the administrative building, and 99% in the extension of the tracks and yard of Asipona (National Port System Administration).” In social matters, Sánchez reported that the corridor has 14 Development Hubs for Well-being (Podebis), subject to federal and state tax incentives; of these, nine are already under concession, three are in the international public bidding process, and two are in the process of being declared Podebis. He added that 4,029 homes and 4,962 home improvement grants have been delivered, as well as the financing and construction of 150 community projects since 2023. “The Interoceanic Corridor is consolidating itself as a new geostrategic route that strengthens multimodal connectivity, the relocation of companies and trade routes in its area of influence, to trigger the economic and social development of the region in connection with other regions of the country and the world,” said the vice admiral. (The original version of this content was written in Spanish)
