Laredo mayor says passenger train lines to Mexican border cities will boost tourism, security

Last week is was announced that newly elected Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will expand the country's passenger rail system to facilitate travel to cities bordering the United States, as well as connecting the capital to other large cities such as Guadalajara. The plan includes building a line from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo, which shares a border with the American city of Laredo.

In a new interview with Newsweek, Laredo mayor Victor Trevino has said that he believes the plan could ease security concerns around migration, rather than adding to them:

"Anyone that lives on the border understands that security is one of the major concerns among tourists traveling to Mexican border with the United States. These passenger train projects will alleviate some of those concerns and could reignite conversations of passenger trains as an alternative form of transportation in our region and the United States."

Although there are already existing lines crossing the border between Laredo and New Laredo, these are designated for freight traffic and any plan to force companies to make space for passenger service appears to be out of the question according to Newsweek. That would leave the option of creating a new 680-mile line from Mexico City to Nuevo Laredo, with electric trains able to run up to 100 m.p.h., at a reported cost of $22 billion.

"As the #1 port of entry in the United States, we applaud and welcome any increase in infrastructure that will not only boost commerce but will also boost tourism in our region," Trevino added.

Sheinbaum's plans were also met with optimism by representatives of the Mexican Railway Association (AMF). In an interview with El Economista, the head of the organization, Óscar del Cueto said that planning three train lines — instead of the eight routes originally proposed during Sheinbaum's campaign — shows a well-structured start for her government. However, he said that completing the routes in five years depends on the successful negotiation of right of way, which implies a complex analysis.