At the end of December 2023, Mexico marked a historic moment with the launch of the restored transoceanic railway on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, known as the "Z Line". The new route stretches for 309 kilometers and connects Coatzacoalcos on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico with Salina Cruz on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. This initiative is a key part of the project, which includes a trio of lines with a total length of 1,087 km, which are planned to be renovated and put into operation by mid-2024.
The railway will be used for both freight and passenger transport. However, the main focus of the project is aimed at reviving the historic Interoceanic Corridor, which was first put into operation in 1907 to transport cargo from the Pacific Ocean to the US East Coast. At its height, the corridor served approximately 60 trains per day, contributing to the development of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos. However, its importance decreased after the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914.
It is interesting to note that the ports of Salina Cruz and Coatzacoalcos, along with the railway infrastructure, are now under the management of the Ferrocarril del Istmo de Tehuantepec, a state-owned enterprise that is part of the Mexican Navy. Last year, this enterprise added another 127 km of transoceanic railway.
As for other elements of the Trans-Island Railway, the project includes the rehabilitation of two other railway lines, one of which runs to the border with Guatemala, and the modernization of four ports overall. The Mexican government hopes to attract private investment by creating industrial parks on the isthmus. Planned to handle up to 1.2 million TEUs annually, rail is expected to become a more efficient and faster option for transporting cargo to the Panama Canal.
In terms of passenger traffic, there is currently only one train between the two coasts, departing from each terminus daily. In case of increased demand, the possibility of increasing the number of trains may be considered.
