Technical and economic feasibility of the Transisthmic Train in Mexico

The Tehuantepec Isthmus Interoceanic Corridor is a program carried out by the Mexican government in the country southeast to provide a multimodal transportation system and contribute to the economic and social development of the region. The existing railway line of 303 km in length was inaugurated in 1907, the design does not comply with the current regulations due to excessive curvatures and slopes, the track has some sections of low load capacity rails and wooden sleepers. The project contemplates the construction of the double-track railway line to link the ports of Coatzacoalcos and Salina Cruz with electric trains of 160 km/h maximum speed for passenger service and 120 km/h for the cargo transport. The project´s estimated cost is 2 billion dollars, which considers: track structure, signaling, communication systems, stations, and trains. This paper presents the technical and economic feasibility of the Transisthmic Train, considering the investment, operation, and maintenance costs, as well as the potential demand for passengers and cargo proposed by the Mexican authorities.